Estimating costs of hepatitis B vaccination in infants: experimental evidence of the expanded program on immunization in Southern Iran

Abstract

ABSTRACT Background Health costs have increased significantly around the world, and cost assessments have become important. This study aimed to collect cost of the resources used in the national hepatitis B immunization program in Southern Iran. Methods Costs were calculated by investigating the available documents as well as consulting with knowledgeable personnel. These costs were collected using the data from Shiraz University of Medical Sciences. According to the health payer’s perspective, the indirect costs of the people were not taken into account. All current and capital costs in year 2017 were calculated and converted to US dollars (USDs). Results In 2017, 33 204 children received hepatitis B vaccine. The total cost of the national hepatitis B vaccination program in Shiraz and the cost of vaccination per child were 473 506 and 14.26 USD, respectively. However, the cost of inoculation of hepatitis B vaccine per dose was estimated at 3.20 USD. Personnel costs constituted the highest proportion (53.84%) of total costs. Conclusions The cost of hepatitis B vaccination in Iran was lower than other countries. Considering that personnel costs had the largest proportion, it is recommended that proper measures be taken to monitor and modify these costs if necessary.