The private demand for Hib vaccination in a probable low Hib disease incidence country: Thailand 2006.

This study aimed to determine the private demand for Hib vaccination in Thailand. A willingness-to-pay (WTP) survey was performed by face-to-face interviews of 662 pregnant women attending antenatal clinics in 4 regions of the country. Hypothetical incidence scenarios of Hib disease and hypothetical vaccine market scenarios were presented to the respondents. Regarding the scenarios, the respondents responded to discrete choice questions asking for their WTP for Hib vaccination for their children. Probit regression models were used to predict median WTP for Hib vaccine per child. A median WTP for Hib vaccine per child per vaccination course was estimated at THB 3800, or USD 106. Although Hib disease incidence in Thailand is probably low, high monetary value of WTP for Hib vaccine probably reflects concern among Thai people about severity of the disease and good perceptions about safety and efficacy of the vaccine.