BackgroundHPV is a major cancer-causing factor in both sexes in the cervix, vulva, vagina, anus, penis, oropharynx as well as the causal factor in other diseases such as genital warts and recurrent respiratory papillomatis. In the context of the arrival of a nonavalent HPV vaccine (6/11/16/18/31/33/45/52/58), this analysis aims to estimate the public health impact and the incremental cost-effectiveness of a universal (girls and boys) vaccination program with a nonavalent HPV vaccine as compared to the current universal vaccination program with a quadrivalent HPV vaccine (6/11/16/18), in Austria.MethodA dynamic transmission model including a wide range of health and cost outcomes related to cervical, anal, vulvar, vaginal diseases and genital warts was calibrated to Austrian epidemiological data. The clinical impact due to the 5 new types was included for cervical and anal diseases outcomes only. In the base case, a two-dose schedule, lifelong vaccine type-specific protection and a vaccination coverage rate of 60 % and 40 % for girls and boys respectively for the 9-year old cohorts were assumed. A cost-effectiveness threshold of €30,000/QALY-gained was considered.ResultsUniversal vaccination with the nonavalent vaccine was shown to reduce the incidence of HPV16/18/31/33/45/52/58 -related cervical cancer by 92 %, the related CIN2/3 cases by 96 % and anal cancer by 83 % and 76 % respectively in females and males after 100 years, relative to 75 %, 76 %, 80 % and 74 % with the quadrivalent vaccine, respectively. Furthermore, the nonavalent vaccine was projected to prevent an additional 14,893 cases of CIN2/3 and 2544 cases of cervical cancer, over 100 years. Depending on the vaccine price, the strategy was shown to be from cost-saving to cost-effective.ConclusionThe present evaluation showed that vaccinating 60 % of girls and 40 % of boys aged 9 in Austria with a 9-valent vaccine will substantially reduce the incidence of cervical cancer, CIN and anal cancer compared to the existing strategy. The vaccination strategies performed with the 9-valent vaccine in the current study were all found to be cost-effective compared to the current quadrivalent vaccination strategy by considering a cost-effectiveness threshold of 30,000€/QALY gained.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer acknowledges that HPV is a human carcinogen affecting both sexes. This study aimed to evaluate the public health impact of universal HPV vaccination in Austria, to assess its cost-effectiveness and to estimate the HPV prevalence reduction over time. Vaccinating 65% of 9-year-old boys and girls in Austria would result in a 70% decrease in HPV infections in both males and females, hereby avoiding 9500 cases of genital warts annually and 431 HPV 16/18-related cancers in males and females. This strategy would be cost effective with base case analysis of €26,701/quality-adjusted life year (QALY) gained for cervical cancer only, €15,820/QALY also including vaginal/vulvar cancers and genital warts, and €10,033/QALY also considering anal, oropharyngeal and penile cancers, with an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio ranging from €2500 to €21,000/QALY in sensitivity analyses. HPV circulation would be controlled hereby preventing subsequent HPV-related cancers.

Objective: In the Austrian population approximately 350,000-400,000 cases and 1,000-1,200 deaths are observed during an average epidemic, which puts influenza-related deaths on top of the list of vaccine-preventable cases of death. In face of extensive vaccination recommendations, the current vaccination rate of the general population of about 6% is one of the lowest worldwide. The objective of this study was to provide an update regarding the use of influenza vaccination in Austria over the period 1982-2015. Methods: This paper presents data on influenza vaccine use in Austria displayed by the number of distributed doses per 1,000 population over a period of 33 years. Further data was collected from representative population-based telephone surveys. Results: Austria has always been among the countries with a low number of distributed doses of influenza vaccine. The highest number ever was reached in 2006 with 142 doses/1,000. From 2007 onwards, a steady decrease happened to 62 doses/1,000 in the 2015/16 season, which corresponds to the level of the mid-nineties. Conclusion: Despite the fact that Austria is a country with comprehensive recommendations for influenza vaccination, this vaccination continues to be misjudged by the Austrian population and many areas of the medical system. From a public health point of view, this situation is not acceptable. Efforts must be increased to attain a much higher vaccination rate, e.g. the importance of the healthcare workers' influence must be recognized, the options of social marketing have to be utilized and studies on the main barriers in Austria are urgently needed.

The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio for patient treated at F2F3 ranged from 3 000 € / QALY to 20 000 € / QALY for 8 and 12 weeks treatment duration. The sensitivity analyses carried out confirmed the robustness of this result. ConClusions: Sofosbuvir-ledipasvir association is a cost-effective treatment option for patients with hepatitis C in most clinical contexts.