Cost of providing the expanded programme on immunization : findings from a facility-based study in Viet Nam, 2005

To estimate and analyse the costs for providing the expanded programme on immunization (EPI) in a rural community in the north of Viet Nam in 2005. An ingredient approach was used to collect cost data from the perspective of the service providers. The total annual cost of EPI in Bavi district was US$58,460 [purchasing power parity (PPP) 282,076]. Vaccines and supplies were the largest cost category (33%), followed by personnel costs (30.2%). The largest share of the total cost was due to activities at commune level (38%). The average cost per fully vaccinated child (FVC) was US$4.81 (PPP 23.21), much lower than the figure of US$15 that is generally accepted as the cost-effective threshold for EPI in developing countries. This empirical study indicates that EPI has been implemented efficiently in rural Viet Nam, but that opportunities exist to make it even more efficient.