Vaccines (Jun 2020)

Strengthening the Evidence-Based Approach to Guiding Effective Influenza Vaccination Policies

  • Giovanna Elisa Calabrò,
  • Maria Lucia Specchia,
  • Sara Boccalini,
  • Donatella Panatto,
  • Caterina Rizzo,
  • Stefano Merler,
  • Anna Maria Ferriero,
  • Maria Luisa Di Pietro,
  • Paolo Bonanni,
  • Chiara de Waure

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines8030342
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 8, no. 3
p. 342

Abstract

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The availability of several effective and safe vaccines enables health systems to counteract annual influenza epidemics. However, the criteria of appropriateness and sustainability require that each citizen should receive the right vaccine. The value of each vaccine can be assessed within well-known frameworks, such as the Health Technology Assessment (HTA), a step that is fundamental to the process of allocating resources to vaccination strategies. The paper describes how HTA has been incorporated as an evidence-based tool to support the definition of Italian vaccination strategies, reports the results of the HTA report on the most recently available influenza vaccine in Italy (cell-based quadrivalent vaccine (QIVc)—Flucelvax® Tetra) and elaborates on current and future recommendations in the field of influenza vaccination. Recommendations issued by the Italian Ministry of Health foster the appropriate use of influenza vaccines from 2018–2019 onwards. Evidence of the value of newly available vaccines will hopefully support future decisions and promote the appropriate use of these vaccines on the basis of the characteristics of the target population. However, the success of influenza vaccination will also depend on citizens’ empowerment and engagement in the decision-making process.

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