With the exception of clean water, no other modality, not even antibiotics, has had such a major effect on mortality reduction.

The value of vaccination extends beyond providing just positive health outcomes; it supports socio-economic development through saving lives and saving money.

"Immunization is one of the most cost-effective public-health investments to decrease poverty and prevent longer term economic and social costs," said Dr Shafi Kolhapure, GM, Clinical R&D and Medical Affairs (Vaccines), South Asia, GSK Pharmaceuticals India.

The way we view vaccines and vaccines development requires a rethink, built on an appreciation of the value of prevention which in nearly all cases confers positive health economic benefits to society.

Childhood Vaccination

By helping to keep children healthy, immunization can extend life expectancy and the time spent on productive activity - thereby contributing to poverty reduction.

Beyond preventing more than 426 million cases of illness and averting 6.4 million deaths over the next ten years, immunizing children would hold major economic benefits for both families and governments.

Expanding childhood immunization rates in the world's 72 poorest countries over the next decade would result in an estimated US $151 billion in treatment and productivity savings.

The ability to avert 6.4 million deaths by improving vaccine coverage has an estimated value of US $231 billion for those in at-risk countries

Adult and Adolescent Vaccination

Dr Kolhapure added, "Amidst the current demographic trends, adult and adolescent vaccination offers a cost-effective solution to maintaining public health and helps the aging to be more active and productive."

Seasonal influenza is a major economic burden. It can result in increased healthcare costs and workplace absences and reduced productivity.

Studies from developed countries that suggest the total annual cost of influenza is between US $1 million to US $6 million per 100,000 population.

Influenza vaccination may reduce the number of hospitalizations for pneumonia, influenza, bronchitis, or emphysema by 63%13 and reduce overall mortality by 75%.

Human Papillomavirus (HPV), which causes cervical cancer - the third most common cancer in women, incidence rates vary from 1 to 50 per 100 000 females15.

In Belgium, health economic data has shown that screening for and vaccinating against HPV would prevent an additional 646 cases of cervical cancer over the lifetime of a 100,000 female cohort compared with screening alone.