Journal article
Economic implications of switching to the hexavalent infant vaccine in an immunization program in India
Combination vaccines can improve immunization coverage, timeliness, and acceptanceby reducing the number of injections and simplifying program delivery. The hexavalentvaccine, which combines the pentavalent vaccine with inactivated polio vaccine (IPV),has been adopted in several countries to maintain polio immunity while streamliningroutine immunization schedules. This study evaluates the economic implications ofintroducing the hexavalent vaccine into India’s national immunization program. Twointroduction scenarios were assessed: replacement of pentavalent and IPV, and replace-ment of pentavalent, IPV, and the Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis (DTP) first booster. Theanalysis considered costs from both government provider and household perspectives,capturing changes in program costs as well as time savings for families associated withfewer vaccine administrations. The results indicate that introducing the hexavalentvaccine would increase overall program costs under both scenarios, driven primarilyby the higher price per dose of the hexavalent vaccine. However, the switch also yieldsoperational efficiencies and time savings for caregivers during immunization visits.Importantly, the findings show that price reductions substantially improve the economiccase for adoption. A 50% reduction in the unit price of the hexavalent vaccine wouldoffset the additional program costs in the first scenario, while further price reductionscould generate net cost savings in the second scenario. Overall, the study suggests thatadoption of the hexavalent vaccine in India could support more efficient and user-friendly immunization delivery. Achieving economic benefits, however, will dependcritically on procurement strategies that successfully lower vaccine prices.
Authors
Languages
- English
Publication year
2026
Journal
HUMAN VACCINES & IMMUNOTHERAPEUTICS
Volume
22
Issue
2026
Type
Journal article
Categories
- Programme management
Diseases
- Diphtheria
- Pertussis
- Polio
- Tetanus
Countries
- India
Tags
- New vaccine introduction
- Planning, budgeting and financing
WHO Regions
- South-East Asia Region
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