25.07.13
Men B vaccine ‘unlikely to be cost effective at any price’
Charities and campaigners have expressed frustration and disappointment with the Government’s position on a vaccine for Meningitis B.
The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) said key data about drug Bexsero’s effectiveness was still missing. Bexsero was licensed by the European Commission in January following extensive clinical trials.
The JCVI will make its final recommendation to Government this autumn.
Director of immunisation Professor David Salisbury said: “This is a very difficult situation where we have a new vaccine against Meningitis B but we lack important evidence. We need to know how well it will protect, how long it will protect and if it will stop the bacteria from spreading from person to person. We need to work with the scientific community and the manufacturer to find ways to resolve these uncertainties so that we can come to a clear answer.”
The JCVI concluded: “On the basis of the available evidence, routine infant or toddler immunisation using Bexsero is highly unlikely to be cost effective at any vaccine price based on the accepted threshold for cost effectiveness used in the UK and could not be recommended.
“Similarly if the vaccine had little or no impact on the acquisition of meningococcal carriage, adolescent immunisation is also highly unlikely to be cost effective at any vaccine price.”
Sue Davie, chief executive of the Meningitis Trust/Meningitis UK, said: “This is extremely disappointing news after all our supporters and our hard work over decades to introduce a vaccine.
“We understand the committee’s concerns about impact and cost, but we believe this vaccine is safe and we know it will save lives. The more we delay the more lives are being lost.”
Andrin Oswald, Novartis’ head of vaccines and diagnostics, said: “The interim position by the JCVI is inconsistent with its recommendations for other meningococcal vaccines. The Meningitis C vaccination campaign in the UK, following JCVI recommendation, was a tremendous public health success saving thousands from serious illness and death.
“It is disappointing to see that the decision was mostly driven by financial considerations and without any pricing discussion with Novartis. The evaluation model does not do justice to the vaccine’s ability to prevent babies and young children from dying or surviving with severe lifelong disabilities.”
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Image c. Gareth Fuller/PA Wire