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13th International AIDS ConferenceDurban, South Africa - July 9-July 14, 2000 |
Int Conf AIDS 2000 Jul 9-14; 13:(abstract no. MoOrC127)
Forsythe S, Arthur G, Mutemi R, Gilks C
StevenForsythe, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool L3 5QA, United Kingdom, Tel.: +44 151 928 02 17, Fax: +44 151 707 91 93, E-mail: forsythe@liv.ac.uk
BACKGROUND: When an AIDS vaccine becomes available, its affordability is likely to be a critical component to its acceptance by individuals, national governments and international donors in developing countries. This study was designed to determine the economic value that individuals place on a hypothetical vaccine and to assess people's willingness to pay for such a vaccine.
METHODS: 900 Kenyans were randomly selected from households in Nairobi and Thika to determine their willingness to accept and pay for a hypothetical AIDS vaccine. 450 respondents were asked their maximum willingness to pay for a vaccine that was 50% effective, while the other 450 respondents were asked about a vaccine that was 100% effective.
RESULTS: A preliminary analysis of the data indicates that 21% of Kenyans were unwilling to be vaccinated at any price. Acceptability of a hypothetical vaccine was highly dependent upon the assumed efficacy of the vaccine, with 37% of respondents being unwilling to receive a vaccine that was only 50% effective. The median price that Kenyans were willing to pay for a vaccine was $1.40, although more than 20% of respondents were willing to pay more than $7 for such a vaccine.
CONCLUSIONS: Nearly 4 of 10 respondents were unwilling to receive a vaccine that was only 50% effective. Furthermore, a majority of Kenyans were either unable or unwilling to pay more than $2 to receive an AIDS vaccine. Therefore, if an AIDS vaccine becomes available, efficacy and affordability will be critical issues in determining acceptance in Kenya. Significant additional economic research is needed to develop criterion to assure the affordability and acceptance of an AIDS vaccine in developing countries.
Copyright © 2000 - International AIDS Society (IAS). Reproduction of this abstract (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the IAS.
