[Assessment of the economic impact of the antiretroviral vaccine in Venezuela].

OBJECTIVE To assess the cost of medical care for rotavirus gastroenteritis and the cost-effectiveness of the antiretroviral vaccine in Venezuelan children under five. METHODS We used an economic model that comprises epidemiologic information, vaccine efficacy, and the cost of medical care in connection with rotavirus gastroenteritis, viewed from a social perspective. In order to determine the effectiveness of the vaccine, we estimated the number of hospitalized cases, of medical visits, and of deaths averted after vaccination. The cost-effectiveness of the vaccine was determined on the basis of the number of disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) and cases averted. RESULTS In Venezuela, health services spend approximately 4.2 million US$ yearly on covering the costs of medical care for rotavirus-related disease. In a vaccinated cohort, an antiretroviral vaccination program would prevent around 52% (186) of the deaths, 54% (7,232) of the hospitalizations, and 50% (55,168) of the ambulatory visits that take place during the first five years of life. For an estimated cost of approximately 24 US$ per individual vaccination schedule, the cost-effectiveness ratio obtained is 1,352 US$ per DALY. CONCLUSIONS The results of this study suggest that antiretroviral vaccination is a cost-effective strategy for preventing rotavirus gastroenteritis in Venezuela, since it can prevent deaths and DALYs in the population under five years of age.