AN ECONOMIC-ANALYSIS OF VARICELLA VACCINATION FOR HEALTH-CARE WORKERS

A simulation model was constructed to assess the relative costs and co st-effectiveness of different screening and vaccination strategies for dealing with hospital incidents of varicella exposure, compared with current policies, using data from published sources and a hospital sur vey. The mean number of incidents per hospital year was 3.9, and the m ean annual cost of managing these incidents was pound 5170. Vaccinatio n of all staff would reduce annual incidents to 2.2 at a net cost of p ound 48900 per incident averted. Screening all staff for previous vari cella, testing those who are uncertain or report no previous varicella , and vaccinating those who test negative for VZV antibodies, reduces annual incidents to 2.3 and gives net savings of pound 440 per inciden t averted. Sensitivity analyses do not greatly alter the ranking of th e options. Some form of VZV vaccination strategy for health care worke rs may well prove a cost-effective use of health cafe resources.