Childhood mortality impact and costs of integrating vitamin A supplementation into immunization campaigns

Country-specific activity and coverage data were used to estimate the childhood mortality impact (deaths averted) and costs of integrating vitamin A supplements into immunization campaigns conducted in 1998 and 1999. More than 94 million doses of vitamin A were administered in 41 countries in 1998, helping to avert nearly 169 000 deaths. During 1999, delivery of more than 97 million doses in 50 countries helped avert an estimated 242 000 deaths. The estimated incremental cost per death averted was US $72 (range: 36-142) in 1998 and US $64 (range: 32-126) in 1999. The estimated average total cost of providing supplementation per death averted was US $310 (range: 157-609) in 1998 and US $276 (range: 139-540) in 1999. Costs per death averted varied by campaign, depending on the number and proportion of the child population reached, number of doses received per child, and child mortality rates.