Development and Validation of a Framework for Comprehensive Vaccine Value Assessment: A Modified Delphi Study.

Authors

Quan Wei Song, Hong Yang, Na Liu, Lin Lin Gong, Zhi Jie An, Hua Qing Wang

Published in

Biomedical and environmental sciences : BES. Volume 39. Issue 10. Pages 1176-1188. Oct 20, 2026.

Abstract

Traditional Health Technology Assessments (HTAs) commonly overlook the broader societal and economic externalities of vaccines, leading to systematic undervaluation and suboptimal resource allocation. This study aimed to develop and validate a comprehensive vaccine value framework and prioritize individual elements for future HTA integration.
A two-phase mixed-methods approach was employed for framework development. Phase 1 involved a systematic literature review of major databases to construct an initial conceptual framework. Phase 2 utilized a two-round modified Delphi study involving a multidisciplinary expert panel to validate and refine the framework. Six evaluative criteria, categorized under the dimensions of "Relevance" and "Feasibility", were weighted and applied to score each value element. Finally, a comparative analysis of the raw and weighted scores was conducted to identify five priority value elements for future integration into HTAs.
The final validated framework comprised 5 value categories, 21 value elements, and 75 actionable value items. Although traditional metrics achieved the highest consensus, the following five "broader" elements emerged as top priorities for future inclusion: (1) Enhancement of Health System Security, (2) Macroeconomic Gains, (3) Social Equity and Ethics, (4) Prevention of Institutional Disruptions, and (5) Value to Other Interventions.
This study established a standardized multitiered roadmap to capture the multifaceted value of vaccines. By introducing actionable Tier-3 indicators, the framework operationalizes the assessment of broader vaccine benefits and offers a practical tool to support equitable and comprehensive evidence-based policymaking. Furthermore, the identification of the five priority value elements provides a feasible pathway for integrating extended vaccine externalities into future HTAs. Ultimately, this standardized framework will facilitate holistic decision-making and support the optimal allocation of resources within national immunization programs.

PMID:
43016184
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 12 Nov 2026.

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