Published in:
01-06-2002 | Original Research Article
A Model to Estimate the Cost Benefit of an Occupational Vaccination Programme for Influenza with Influvac® in the UK
Authors:
Roben Das Gupta, Dr Julian F. Guest
Published in:
PharmacoEconomics
|
Issue 7/2002
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Abstract
Objectives: To model the economic impact of introducing an occupational vaccination programme for influenza with an inactivated influenza subunit vaccine (Influvac®) in the UK.
Design and setting: Using published sources, a decision tree was constructed which modelled the costs and benefits of introducing an influenza vaccine in a business in the UK from the perspective of an employer.
Study participants and interventions: The model considered the implementation of an occupational vaccination programme with Influvac® in a business employing 1000 normal healthy adults earning the national average wage in the UK. The model assumed that 95% of employees would be absent from work after contracting influenza for a mean of 5 days and that the level of productivity would be reduced by 60% for one day by 85% of sick employees returning to work.
Main outcome measures and results: The expected probability of an employee being absent from work following an influenza vaccination would be reduced from 5.7 to 1.8% when the incidence of influenza in the community is 6%.Accordingly, if all 1000 employees were vaccinated, a business would be expected to reduce absenteeism from work attributable to an influenza outbreak by 220 days. Moreover, the expected return on every pound invested by an employer would be £1.03, £3.09 and £5.15 (2000 values) when the annual incidence of influenza in the community is 2, 6 and 10%, respectively.
Conclusions: Implementation of an occupational vaccination programme with Influvac® would be expected to reduce the incidence of influenza among a workforce leading to less absenteeism from work and averted lost productivity. Even if the incidence of influenza was as low as 2% it may be a worthwhile investment for UK employers to vaccinate their employees with Influvac®.