BACKGROUND: Rotavirus is among the leading causes of severe gastroenteritis in children. Effective vaccines enable universal mass vaccination (UMV) which incurs high expenditure and therefore economic justification is needed.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of UMV with Rotarix ® versus no vaccination program in the Philippines.

METHODS: A four-state decision tree model was used to estimate costs and health outcomes subject to annual discount rate of 3.5% Local and international published data and experts opinions were used for epidemiology, efficacy and resource use input parameters. Analyses were reported as estimated total costs, quality adjusted life years (QALYs) gained, and incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) in Philippines Peso (PHP) per QALY gained between rotavirus UMV and no vaccination.

RESULTS: From a payer (societal) perspective, the ICER is PHP 12, 835/QALY (PHP12,059/QALY). Sensitivity analyses showed the ICERs below PHP 80,000/QALY, well below 1 time 2012 GDP per capita at PHP 103,366 with the main drivers of uncertainty being the probabilities of mild and moderate diarrhoea and vaccine costs

CONCLUSION: Rotavirus UMV reduces both health and economic burden of rotavirus induced gastroenteritis. Based on the WHO's recommended thresholds, Rotarix® vaccination is projected to be very cost-effective in the Philippines in comparison with no vaccination.