Management of HAV in Countries under Conflict: Palestinian Case as a Cost – Consequences Analysis

It is known that Hepatitis A is not a dangerous virus if individuals are infected by in early age, while it may be of high risk if individuals are infected after that, specially when there is a positive improvement in the hygiene around, that to say as hygiene gets more clean and health the probability of being infected in early age gets lower, which imply that individual may be under risk in future, Occupied Palestinian Territory (oPT) demonstrates a downward incidence rate of HAV up to the year 2002, when in this year a reverse trend commenced to instigate. This turning point re-opened the discussion on the feasibility, and efficiency, of introducing a vaccination programs against HAV, as this new trend was associated with a severe deterioration in the hygiene and all related socioeconomic conditions, the study aims to introduce an economic analysis of the most affordable, and economically-efficient, alternative to be adopted to manage HAV in the oPT. Based on cost-consequences analysis conducted from the societal perspective, the results show that an incremental strategy can serve well the Palestinian case; and we can say that A national strategy to incorporate HAV vaccine in the vaccination programs of the Ministry of Health according to a justified scope of priorities and coverage will assist in the process to prevent and control Hepatitis A through vaccination and improving the overall health conditions of the society.