Economic impact of providing workplace influenza vaccination - A model andcase study application at a Brazilian pharma-chemical company

Objective: To develop and apply a model to assess the economic value of a w orkplace influenza programme from the perspective of the employer. Design: The model calculated the avoided costs of influenza, including trea tment costs, lost productivity, lost worker added value and the cost of rep lacing workers. Subtracted from this benefit were the costs associated with a vaccination programme, including administrative costs, the time to give the vaccine, and lost productivity due to adverse reactions. The framework of the model can be applied to any company to estimate the cost-benefit of an influenza immunisation programme. Setting: The model developed was applied to 4030 workers in the core divisi ons of a Brazilian pharma-chemical company. Results: The model determined a net benefit of $US 121 441 [129 335 Brazili an reals ($Brz)], or $US35.45 ($Brz37.75) per vaccinated employee (1997 val ues). The cost-benefit ratio was 1 : 2.47. The calculations were subjected to a battery of 1-way and 2-way sensitivity analyses that determined that n et benefit would be retained as long as the vaccine cost remained below $US 45.40 ($Brz48.40) or the vaccine was at least 32.5% effective. Other altera tions would retain a net benefit as well, including several combinations of incidence rate and vaccine effectiveness. Conclusions: The analysis suggests that providing an influenza vaccination programme can incur a substantial net benefit for atl employer, although th e size of the benefit will depend upon who normally absorbs the costs of tr eating influenza and compensating workers for lost work time due to illness , as well as the type of company in which the immunisation programme is app lied.