Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41004947›Full record

ArticleVaccine2025

Health economics and vaccine financing in the eastern Mediterranean region: A needs assessment.

Palwasha Anwari, Gerald Sume, Wedyan Meshreky, Nathalie Vande Maele, So Yoon Sim, Karene Hoi Ting Yeung, Diana Kizza, Philipp Lambach, Maarten Paul Maria Jansen, Raymond Hutubessy and 1 more

Abstract read
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In one paragraph

Article in Vaccine, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Palwasha AnwariImmunization Vaccine Preventable Disease and Polio Transition Unit, Department of Communicable Diseases, WHO Regional Office of the Eastern Mediterranean Region, Cairo, Egypt. Electronic address: anwarip@who.int.
Gerald SumeImmunization Vaccine Preventable Disease and Polio Transition Unit, Department of Communicable Diseases, WHO Regional Office of the Eastern Mediterranean Region, Cairo, Egypt.
Wedyan MeshrekyImmunization Vaccine Preventable Disease and Polio Transition Unit, Department of Communicable Diseases, WHO Regional Office of the Eastern Mediterranean Region, Cairo, Egypt.
Nathalie Vande MaeleDepartment of Immunization, Vaccines and Biologicals, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.
So Yoon SimDepartment of Immunization, Vaccines and Biologicals, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.
Karene Hoi Ting YeungDepartment of Immunization, Vaccines and Biologicals, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.
Diana KizzaUnited Nations Children Fund (UNICF) Regional Office for North Africa and Eastern Mediterranean.
Philipp LambachDepartment of Immunization, Vaccines and Biologicals, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.
Maarten Paul Maria JansenDepartment of Immunization, Vaccines and Biologicals, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.
Raymond HutubessyDepartment of Immunization, Vaccines and Biologicals, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.
Quamrul HasanImmunization Vaccine Preventable Disease and Polio Transition Unit, Department of Communicable Diseases, WHO Regional Office of the Eastern Mediterranean Region, Cairo, Egypt.

Funding

World Health Organization 001
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionThe World Health Organization Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) faces a high burden of vaccine-preventable diseases requiring efficient use of limited resources. A regional needs assessment was conducted to evaluate the current application of health economics and vaccine financing in national immunization programmes and policy formulation, identify capacity gaps, and inform tailored technical support.

methodsA structured online survey was administered between January 28 and February 18, 2025. It targeted expended programme on immunization (EPI) managers and National Immunization Technical Advisory Group (NITAG) chairs across all 22 EMR countries. The questionnaire explored five thematic areas: current capacity in health economics and vaccine financing, training and capacity-building needs, demand for technical support, data availability and use in decision-making, and strategic planning for vaccine financing among immunization stakeholders at Ministry of Health and in NITAGs. The survey used multiple-choice, Likert-scale, and open-ended questions. Results were analyzed using descriptive statistics and disaggregated by income level.

resultsThe response rate was 73 % (16/22 countries). Only three countries (19 %) reported full integration of health economics within their immunization programmes, while 56 % (n = 9) reported minimal or no integration. Three countries had a dedicated health economics focal person for immunization. In two high-income countries immunization programmes demonstrated stronger capacity in health economics, whereas the rest of countries demonstrated low to moderate levels. Ten countries (63 %) rated their capacity in financial forecasting and planning for immunization as moderate or high, but eleven (69 %) rated their capacity in cost-effectiveness analysis and vaccine financial sustainability as low to none. Access to data varied, with 25 % of countries finding it easily accessible.

conclusionThe findings highlight the need to strengthen the integration of health economics and vaccine financing into immunization programmes and policy decision-making across the EMR, irrespective of income level. Tailored capacity-building, technical support, and cross-sectoral collaboration, particularly with academia, are essential.

Indexed as

Immunization ProgramsNeeds AssessmentVaccinationVaccinesHumansMediterranean RegionSurveys and QuestionnairesVaccinesEastern Mediterranean region, National Immunization Technical Advisory Groups (NITAGs)Health economicsImmunizationNeeds assessmentVaccine financing

Identifiers

PMID41004947
PMCPMC12550511

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.