ISPUP awarded by the Portuguese Society of Allergology

Researcher Mariana Farraia, from the Instituto de Saúde Pública da Universidade do Porto (ISPUP), was distinguished at the annual congress of the Portuguese Society of Allergology and Clinical Immunology (SPAIC) for a paper that evaluated the cost-effectiveness of administering an anti-allergic vaccine to children with allergic rhinitis to pollen.

The prize, worth 3500 euros, was awarded by SPAIC, along with Roxall, a pharmaceutical company specialising in immunotherapy – a form of treatment used in allergic diseases such as rhinitis and asthma.

“When it comes to its effects, immunotherapy is the only form of treatment that tries to tackle the cause of allergies, since the usual treatment is done to control and relieve symptoms, through antihistamines and nasal corticoids. Normally, those with allergic rhinitis have to control their symptoms through these medications, because it is a chronic disease that tends to evolve with age and may even lead to asthma in the long term”, explains Mariana Farraia, first author of the study, coordinated by researcher André Moreira.

The study, entitled Cost-effectiveness analysis of grass pollen specific immunotherapy in children with allergic rhinitis compared to the standard of care symptomatic treatment, in Portugal, sought to understand whether the cost of this form of therapy, which is around 250 to 300 euros per year, would make sense considering its benefits for patients, specifically for children between 10 and 12 years old.

“With this study, we realised that this vaccine is cost-effective, since the beneficial effects it brings in the long term compensate for the expenses incurred with the treatment,” adds the researcher.

To ensure its effectiveness, this type of therapy generally lasts 3 to 5 years, with continuous administration of the vaccine subcutaneously or orally, and it can only be prescribed by a doctor specialised in immunoallergology – a specific consultation that represents an added expense for families.

The importance of co-payment of the vaccine to avoid inequalities in access to health

Allergic vaccines are not subsidised by the government. Due to the high cost of this therapy, there are families who can only resort to conventional symptomatic treatments, such as antihistamines, or opt for immunotherapy treatment for only one year.

Vaccines were subsidised by the state in 50% until 2011, at a time of economic crisis in Portugal and, since then, they have not been subsidised again.

For Mariana Farraia, “it would be positive if the state reimbursed them, because they are a relatively expensive treatment that many families cannot access, despite its effectiveness, which represents greater inequalities in access to health”.

Despite immunotherapy emerging as a form of treatment for allergic diseases with more and more studies supporting its effectiveness, the researcher points out that the treatment may not be suitable for all patients.

“In general, despite being an effective treatment and recommended by allergists, immunotherapy is not for everyone, and is always recommended by a specialist doctor under specific criteria,” she stresses.

The prize was awarded last October 7th, during the 42nd Annual Meeting of the Portuguese Society of Allergology and Clinical Immunology (SPAIC) that took place in a virtual format.

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