Relative to the single-antigen hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccine, the three-antigen vaccine provides better protection and is more cost-effective, according to findings published in Vaccine. Sandra Talbird, MSPH, and colleagues found that, among US adults, the three-antigen vaccine resulted in fewer HBV infections, complications, and deaths in all simulated groups due to higher rates of seroprotection and faster onset. The three-antigen vaccine was associated with improved health outcomes, additional quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs), and decreased costs among adults aged 18-64, adults with diabetes, and adults with obesity. Among older adults (≥65), the three-antigen vaccine was cost-effective compared with the single-antigen vaccine, with $26,237 QALYs gained, which is below commonly used willingness-to-pay thresholds ($50,000 to $100,000/QALY gained). The results were sensitive to vaccine cost per dose, incidence, and age at vaccination. “The recently approved [three]-antigen vaccine is a cost-saving or cost-effective intervention for preventing HBV infection and addressing the long-standing burden of hepatitis B among US adults,” Talbird and colleagues wrote.
