title: Cost-effectiveness of the influenza vaccine in a healthy, working-age population.
abstract: To determine if the influenza vaccine can reduce absenteeism and the cost of Influenza-Like Illness (ILI) in healthy adults in the workplace, a prospective, non-randomized, non-placebo control trial was done in six North Carolina textile plants. One hundred thirty-one vaccinated employees were compared with 131 age- and gender-matched non-vaccines from different plants. Twenty-six (20%) of the vaccinated and 64 (49%) of the unvaccinated group had ILI (P = 0.0000008). Fifteen (11%) of the vaccinated and 31 (24%) of the unvaccinated employees missed work because of ILI (P = 0.01). There were 43 lost workdays in vaccinated and 93 in unvaccinated employees (P = 0.00004). The "cost per saved lost workday" was $22.36, for a company savings of $2.58 per dollar invested in the vaccination program. We concluded that the influenza vaccine can give significant reductions in incidence, absenteeism, and cost associated with ILJ in the workplace.
authors.affiliation: Health and Hygiene, Inc., Greensboro, NC, USA.
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Campbell
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Rumley
mesh_terms: D000041:Absenteeism; D000328:Adult; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D004651:Employment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017589:Immunization Programs / Q000191:economics*; D015994:Incidence; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000191:economics*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D009657:North Carolina / Q000453:epidemiology; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012016:Reference Values; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013783:Textile Industry / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
chemical_list: D007252:Influenza Vaccines