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J Med Econ
. 2026 Dec;29(1):848-870.
doi: 10.1080/13696998.2026.2638676. Epub 2026 Mar 17.
The full value of mRNA seasonal influenza and endemic-stage COVID-19 combination vaccines: a taxonomy
J P Sevilla 1 2 , Joseph S Knee 1 , Daria Burnes 1 , Genevieve Meier 3 , Jingyan Yang 4 , Manuela Di Fusco 4 , Tianyan Hu 4 , David E Bloom 2
Affiliations
Aims: Seasonal influenza and COVID-19 pose significant ongoing threats to global health. Vaccination remains central to their prevention. Messenger RNA combination influenza and COVID-19 vaccines (mRNA combo vaccines) are in development. Payers will soon need to make value-for-money (VfM) assessments and coverage decisions regarding these vaccines. Value taxonomies play an important role in VfM assessments and coverage decisions. However, no taxonomy exists that captures the full value of mRNA combo vaccines. We aimed to construct a taxonomy of the full value, from a societal perspective, of mRNA combo vaccines in working-age (18-64 years) and older adults (65+ years).
Methods: We (1) performed a targeted literature review (TLR) of existing value taxonomies and value attributes of COVID-19, influenza, other mRNA, and other combination vaccines; and (2) synthesized the value elements found in the TLR into a comprehensive taxonomy specific to mRNA combo vaccines.
Results: Of 1851 identified studies, 57 contained relevant value elements. We constructed a taxonomy distinguishing narrow health-related from broader societal values, and traditional from novel values. Value elements in the taxonomy included improved health and reduced treatment costs; improved productivity; improved strain selection, raising vaccine efficacy; greater compliance with vaccine schedules, increasing uptake; improved patient and caregiver health and reduced treatment costs from such greater efficacy and uptake; reduced adverse events, anxiety and vaccination costs from reduced doses; process utilities from increased convenience; higher patient and provider acceptability; increased equity; and health-related R&D spillovers.
Limitations: The TLR was non-systematic. We do not address potential redundancies or the relative importance of different values.
Conclusions: Many value elements in the taxonomy are traditional narrow values and fit within a health payer perspective, but the taxonomy also captures broader societal values. This taxonomy can support more comprehensive valuations of mRNA combo vaccines in national vaccine recommendation and funding decisions.
Keywords: COVID-19; I10; I18; I19; combination vaccines; influenza; literature review; mRNA vaccines; value taxonomy.
. 2026 Dec;29(1):848-870.
doi: 10.1080/13696998.2026.2638676. Epub 2026 Mar 17.
The full value of mRNA seasonal influenza and endemic-stage COVID-19 combination vaccines: a taxonomy
J P Sevilla 1 2 , Joseph S Knee 1 , Daria Burnes 1 , Genevieve Meier 3 , Jingyan Yang 4 , Manuela Di Fusco 4 , Tianyan Hu 4 , David E Bloom 2
Affiliations
- PMID: 41843918
- DOI: 10.1080/13696998.2026.2638676
Aims: Seasonal influenza and COVID-19 pose significant ongoing threats to global health. Vaccination remains central to their prevention. Messenger RNA combination influenza and COVID-19 vaccines (mRNA combo vaccines) are in development. Payers will soon need to make value-for-money (VfM) assessments and coverage decisions regarding these vaccines. Value taxonomies play an important role in VfM assessments and coverage decisions. However, no taxonomy exists that captures the full value of mRNA combo vaccines. We aimed to construct a taxonomy of the full value, from a societal perspective, of mRNA combo vaccines in working-age (18-64 years) and older adults (65+ years).
Methods: We (1) performed a targeted literature review (TLR) of existing value taxonomies and value attributes of COVID-19, influenza, other mRNA, and other combination vaccines; and (2) synthesized the value elements found in the TLR into a comprehensive taxonomy specific to mRNA combo vaccines.
Results: Of 1851 identified studies, 57 contained relevant value elements. We constructed a taxonomy distinguishing narrow health-related from broader societal values, and traditional from novel values. Value elements in the taxonomy included improved health and reduced treatment costs; improved productivity; improved strain selection, raising vaccine efficacy; greater compliance with vaccine schedules, increasing uptake; improved patient and caregiver health and reduced treatment costs from such greater efficacy and uptake; reduced adverse events, anxiety and vaccination costs from reduced doses; process utilities from increased convenience; higher patient and provider acceptability; increased equity; and health-related R&D spillovers.
Limitations: The TLR was non-systematic. We do not address potential redundancies or the relative importance of different values.
Conclusions: Many value elements in the taxonomy are traditional narrow values and fit within a health payer perspective, but the taxonomy also captures broader societal values. This taxonomy can support more comprehensive valuations of mRNA combo vaccines in national vaccine recommendation and funding decisions.
Keywords: COVID-19; I10; I18; I19; combination vaccines; influenza; literature review; mRNA vaccines; value taxonomy.