Health Technology Assessment (HTA) of New vaccines and New Target Groups and Impact Evaluation and Effectiveness of Current Vaccination Strategies

Dear colleagues,

In the current global health scenario, there is a strong need for evidence-based choices to rationalize the use of limited available resources and maximize results in terms of health, especially for prevention activities.

The use of clear, robust, and shared criteria to provide the most effective and efficient prevention interventions against infectious diseases is summarized into multidisciplinary analysis, such as the approach of health technology assessment (HTA). In addition, when a prevention program is implemented, it is also necessary to assess the impact of immunization activities on the target population.

The aim of the current Special issue is to collect HTA studies on vaccination that can provide careful and indepth analysis of both epidemiological/clinical data and organization vaccination practices, also including the economic evaluations (budget-impact, cost-effectiveness, cost-utility, and cost-benefit analyses) of new vaccines (such as RSV and SARS-CoV-2) or new vaccination strategies.

Moreover, the Special Issue focuses on the impact assessment of vaccination programs already in place with the aim to provide evidence-based research on the effectiveness of vaccination programs.

Particularly, to measure the impact of prevention activities, research articles on the impact of vaccination programs analyzing the reduction of notifications, hospitalizations, or deaths due to vaccine-preventable diseases (measles, rubella, varicella, pneumococcal and meningococcal diseases, HPV-related diseases, influenza, rotavirus, and herpes zoster) would be appreciated. Monitoring studies of vaccination coverage trends over time and seroepidemiological studies are also welcome to support health authorities in reassessing their national immunization plans (NIP), considering new vaccination strategies for vaccines already included in the NIP.

The final objective is to give voice to all vaccination practices that, at an acceptable and sustainable cost, can improve the quality of life of all people, from children to adolescents, adults and the elderly, including risk groups (healthcare workers, pregnant women, adolescents and the elderly, and people with comorbidities such as diabetes and asplenia).

Prof. Dr. Angela Bechini
Prof. Paolo Bonanni
Prof. Sara Boccalini
Guest Editors

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