The potential effect of improved provision of rabies post-exposure prophylaxis in Gavi-eligible countries: a modelling study.
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Authors
WHO Rabies Modelling Consortium
Publication Date
2019-01Journal Title
Lancet Infect Dis
ISSN
1473-3099
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Volume
19
Issue
1
Pages
102-111
Language
eng
Type
Article
This Version
VoR
Physical Medium
Print-Electronic
Metadata
Show full item recordCitation
WHO Rabies Modelling Consortium. (2019). The potential effect of improved provision of rabies post-exposure prophylaxis in Gavi-eligible countries: a modelling study.. Lancet Infect Dis, 19 (1), 102-111. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1473-3099(18)30512-7
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Tens of thousands of people die from dog-mediated rabies annually. Deaths can be prevented through post-exposure prophylaxis for people who have been bitten, and the disease eliminated through dog vaccination. Current post-exposure prophylaxis use saves many lives, but availability remains poor in many rabies-endemic countries due to high costs, poor access, and supply. METHODS: We developed epidemiological and economic models to investigate the effect of an investment in post-exposure prophylaxis by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. We modelled post-exposure prophylaxis use according to the status quo, with improved access using WHO-recommended intradermal vaccination, with and without rabies immunoglobulin, and with and without dog vaccination. We took the health provider perspective, including only direct costs. FINDINGS: We predict more than 1 million deaths will occur in the 67 rabies-endemic countries considered from 2020 to 2035, under the status quo. Current post-exposure prophylaxis use prevents approximately 56 000 deaths annually. Expanded access to, and free provision of, post-exposure prophylaxis would prevent an additional 489 000 deaths between 2020 and 2035. Under this switch to efficient intradermal post-exposure prophylaxis regimens, total projected vaccine needs remain similar (about 73 million vials) yet 17·4 million more people are vaccinated, making this an extremely cost-effective method, with costs of US$635 per death averted and $33 per disability-adjusted life-years averted. Scaling up dog vaccination programmes could eliminate dog-mediated rabies over this time period; improved post-exposure prophylaxis access remains cost-effective under this scenario, especially in combination with patient risk assessments to reduce unnecessary post-exposure prophylaxis use. INTERPRETATION: Investing in post-exposure vaccines would be an extremely cost-effective intervention that could substantially reduce disease burden and catalyse dog vaccination efforts to eliminate dog-mediated rabies. FUNDING: World Health Organization.
Keywords
WHO Rabies Modelling Consortium, Animals, Dogs, Humans, Rabies virus, Rabies, Bites and Stings, Dog Diseases, Immunoglobulins, Rabies Vaccines, Vaccination, Incidence, Models, Economic, Endemic Diseases, Quality-Adjusted Life Years, Child, Preschool, Cost-Benefit Analysis, World Health Organization, Female, Male, Post-Exposure Prophylaxis
Sponsorship
World Health Organisation
Wellcome Trust
Funder references
World Health Organization (WHO) (2016/679767-0)
Identifiers
External DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S1473-3099(18)30512-7
This record's URL: https://www.repository.cam.ac.uk/handle/1810/287847
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