Vaccinology and Public Health Specialist | Program Lead | Public Speaker, Trainer & Subject Matter Expert on Vaccinology & Immunization | Board Member
Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) remains a significant cause of severe respiratory illness in infants and young children, making preventive measures a critical component of reducing its health and economic burden. In our recent research paper, we focused on two interventions for RSV in Kenya—a maternal vaccine and a long-acting monoclonal antibody (mAb). These interventions, delivered through existing health platforms, offer promising avenues for protecting vulnerable populations. Our analysis aimed to understand the financial and economic costs of integrating these tools into Kenya’s health system, offering insights that are vital for policymakers and global health stakeholders. These cost projections go beyond simple budgeting—they underscore the importance of health system strengthening as an integral part of rolling out new vaccines. For low- and middle-income countries like Kenya, where health budgets are limited, understanding these costs is critical for making informed, sustainable choices. Our analysis estimates the financial cost of delivering the maternal vaccine at $1.50 per dose, rising to $6.60 when accounting for economic costs. These estimates highlight the primary contributors of expanding RSV interventions, with significant cost drivers including health worker training, service delivery, and programme planning. These findings present an opportunity to save young lives through informed policymaking and sustainable health interventions. In addition to investing in effective programme coordination and health worker training, building resilient health systems that can integrate new vaccines and therapies without overwhelming existing structures is critical to ensuring lifesaving RSV interventions reach those who need them most. Read the full paper here: https://lnkd.in/d96hKdXV #VaccineReasearch #VaccineDevelopment #VaccineAdvocacy
