Influenza vaccination in corporate settings: what are the costs and benefits? South and north hemispheres perspectives

• Published in: International Congress series 2004-06, Vol.1263, p.595-599
• Main Authors: Tasset-Tisseau, A, Santoro, N, Samad, A.H, Morales, A
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cost–benefit; Influenza; Occupational health; Vaccination
• ISSN: 0531-5131; 1873-6157
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ics.2004.02.144

The objective of these three studies was to evaluate the effects of influenza vaccination on influenza-like illness (ILI), attack rates and indirect costs for the employers. They were observational studies involving two groups, vaccinated and non-vaccinated, retrospective in Argentina and prospective in Malaysia and Colombia. Data collected covered socio-economic and health status information, data on ILI symptoms and sick leaves. Vaccine adverse events were reported when they occurred. Cost–benefit analyses were performed from the employer perspective using labour costs and operating income, absenteeism and attendance were considered. Sample size varied from 528 to 1022 subjects with well-balanced vaccinated and non-vaccinated groups. In various epidemiological and influenza strains matching, vaccination effectiveness rates on ILI occurrence varied from 68.5% to 84.8%. Two scenarios were presented and the results of the cost–benefit analysis showed systematic net cost–savings per vaccinated employee of US$73.1–240 in Argentina, US$6.45–89.3 in Colombia and US$39.9–734 in Malaysia. This study showed that influenza has significant impact on productivity in different countries and industrial sectors facing epidemiological conditions and risk factors for influenza. In all studies, influenza vaccination showed high effectiveness rates leading to important cost–savings for the employer.