Dear Colleagues,

The fourth JHPOR edition  is largely devoted to vaccines. We present some issues of vaccination against influenza, we show the availability and funding mechanisms of combination vaccines  from 33 European countries, and cost-effectiveness analysis of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination as an extension to the cervical cancer prevention.

Despite the campaign for vaccination against influenza, its coverage is steadily falling, and last season it was below 5% in Poland . The reasons for varying effectiveness of influenza vaccines are complex, but nowadays it is believed, that role of genetic and environmental factors should be emphasized. Some point to the need to monitor the post-vaccination adverse events. Additionally, approach to vaccination  should be personalized.

The increasing cost of clinical trials of vaccination cause the increased interest in solutions based on public-private partnership. The current and planned in the near future research projects conducted by IMI (Innovative Medicines Initiative ) acting jointly with the EFPIA (European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations) are showed in the article of  A. Wittelsberger and M. Goldman.

Two articles in this issue relate to schizophrenia. The first shows the methodology of the project titled "Burden of Disease in Seven Central and Eastern European (CEE)", and the second was the analysis of the cost effectiveness of injectable atypical antipsychotics long-acting for chronic schizophrenia in Poland.

As for disease cost we present to you 2 articles. The first one shows clinical and economic analysis of non-medical technology in Russia, and the second one written by colleagues from Military Institute of Medicine in Warsaw presents assessment of direct costs of hospitalization caused by drug-induced skin reactions. Both works were presented during the earlier Russian-Polish ISPOR meetings.

Also, an analysis of rationalization, which refers to solutions in the Polish Reimbursment Act, was presented on the example of hypertension drugs.

It should be noted, that in the framework of the Polish Pharmacoeconomic Society a Polish glossary of Quality of Life related terms is currently in progress. The glossary’s methodological assumptions were presented in the form of a short communication.

The next edition of JHPOR will be dedicated to the challenges in monoclonal antibody-based therapies. At the same time I cordially invite all interested to the 1st JHPOR Conference titled "Safety Aspects of Monoclonal Antibodies and Fusion Proteins Treatment", which will be held on March 15th, 2014, in Warsaw.

Editor-in-Chief

Prof. K. Jahnz-Różyk

Deputy Editor-in-Chief

Dr J. Lis