UNIVAC

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The UNIVAC (universal vaccine) decision-support model is an Excel file designed for use by national teams led by the Ministry of Health (MoH) in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). It provides a framework in which multidisciplinary teams can incorporate national data and explore the potential consequences of different vaccine policy options e.g. for rotavirus, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines. The model has been designed to support a broad process of training, stakeholder engagement, evidence synthesis and communication with national vaccine committees. Model outcomes include vaccine programme costs, health service costs,  disease cases, serious adverse events, clinic visits, hospital admissions, deaths and Disability Adjusted Life-Years (DALYs) with and without the policy option under consideration. The model can also be used to estimate the cost-utility (cost per DALY averted) and benefit-risk (balance of health benefits and harms) of different options. The model is a simple static proportionate outcomes model and does not capture potentially important indirect effects e.g. herd effects, type replacement. An alternative modelling approach should be considered if incorporation of these features could lead to a different recommendation or decision.

The UNIVAC model was developed by researchers at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM). It has been regularly updated in response to feedback from in-country teams and collaborating partner organisations. Funding and technical support for the development and implementation of the model has been provided by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and PATH, within broader grants supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) and US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).