Program leader: A/Prof Anthony Newall
Dr Anurag Sharma, A/Prof James Wood, A/Prof Virginia Wiseman, Prof Raina MacIntyre.
Students: Dr Sevan Dirmesropian, Dr Shohini Mukherji

Evaluating the value for money of vaccination strategies involves the use of economic and infectious disease models. These models can be used to predict the impact of alternative control strategies and estimate the cost-effectiveness of these programs. It is important to conduct this research to ensure we are protecting the population in the most efficient way at a reasonable cost. Cost-effectiveness analysis plays a major role in policy and funding decisions for vaccines in Australia and increasingly internationally. 

Predicting herd immunity effects is a key focus when estimating the cost-effectiveness of infant vaccination programs. While programs targeted at older adults and the elderly may also induce herd effects, there are other important challenges to consider in these groups. Our research on vaccination in older adults is focused on exploring these factors, such as, age and time effects related to vaccine efficacy and duration of immunity, as well potential interactions with childhood programs targeted at the same pathogen.

We are also play an important role in teaching health economics at UNSW.