Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of how best to evaluate the impact of vaccination programmes to prevent rare diseases of high severity, and in particular the cost-effectiveness of the vaccination of children.

The Government bases its evaluation of vaccination programmes on the advice of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), other expert groups and evidence from a wide range of epidemiologists and other experts. Their considerations include the impact of rare diseases, immunisation, and impacts on children. The methodology used to assess cost-effectiveness of regular (i.e. non-emergency) immunisation programmes is based on published National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidance Guide to the methods of technology appraisal 2013. A copy of the guidance is attached.

The Cost Effectiveness Methodology for Immunisation Programmes and Procurements (CEMIPP) working group has reviewed whether any changes to the methodology might be appropriate for immunisation and the Government is considering the advice.