For the purposes of the calculations in this report, it was estimated that this vaccine would cost $500 per dose and that administration costs would be $10 per dose. Default assumptions for a therapeutic vaccine of a 3-dose series and 40% effectiveness were accepted. Table 4–1 summarizes vaccine program assumptions for all vaccines considered in this report.

If a vaccine program for rheumatoid arthritis were implemented today and the vaccine were 100% efficacious and utilized by 100% of the target population, the annualized present value of the QALYs gained would be 275,000. Using committee assumptions of less-than-ideal efficacy and utilization and including time and monetary costs until a vaccine program is implemented, the annualized present value of the QALYs gained would be 60,000. Most of the QALY loss was attributed to the moderate form of the disease, due to the proportion of cases experiencing that scenario and the long time spent at a moderately decreased HUI.

If a vaccine program for rheumatoid arthritis were implemented today and the vaccine was 100% efficacious and utilized by 100% of the target population, the annualized present value of the health care costs saved would be $1.4 billion. Using committee assumptions of less-than-ideal efficacy and utilization and including time and monetary costs until a vaccine program is implemented, the annualized present value of the health care costs saved would be $300 million.

If a vaccine program for rheumatoid arthritis were implemented today and the vaccine was 100% efficacious and utilized by 100% of the target population, the annualized present value of the program cost would be $100 million. Using committee assumptions of less-than-ideal efficacy and utilization and including time and monetary costs until a vaccine program is implemented, the annualized present value of the program cost would be $53.8 million.

Using committee assumptions of time and costs until licensure, the fixed cost of vaccine development has been amortized and is $10.8 million for a rheumatoid arthritis vaccine.

If a vaccine program were implemented today and the vaccine was 100% efficacious and utilized by 100% of the target population, the annualized present value of the cost per QALY gained is -$5,000. A negative value represents a saving in costs in addition to a saving in QALYs. Using committee assumptions of less-than-ideal utilization and including time and monetary costs until a vaccine program is implemented, the annualized present value of the cost per QALY gained is -$4,000.