Other Effects
It is important to emphasise that economic evaluation using methodology designed for curative treatments significantly disadvantages the cost-effectiveness analyses of preventative therapies such as vaccination. This is so not only for the reasons mentioned thus far but also because cost-effectiveness analysis does not account for the additional added value offered by vaccination such as the advantages of primary prevention, the consequent reduction in use of antimicrobials and therefore effects on antimicrobial resistance, the possibility of disease eradication and the general improvement in childhood health.
The pharmaceutical industry is a central part of the pipeline for vaccine development by providing vital funding and resources for research and development. The current financial model for evaluation may discourage research by the pharmaceutical industry and academia to develop novel vaccines and technologies. Developments such as reverse vaccinology, structural vaccinology and novel adjuvants have great potential to advance vaccine development, perhaps beyond the prevention of infectious diseases.