Financial Benefits
Spending money to protect staff from contracting influenza is cost-effective.
A large study of healthy employees provided with influenza vaccination prior to a mild flu season realised savings greater than four and a half times the cost of vaccination2 (cost was determined by vaccine and administration cost, time spent being vaccinated and lost time associated with side effects of vaccination). The savings are more pronounced in years where there are more widespread or severe influenza strains present.
Consider the competitive advantages and cost savings through reductions in absenteeism and unplanned health care costs.
Vaccinating healthy working adults against influenza will generate cost savings 95% of the time 3
In one Australian company, vaccination benefits were calculated to be over two and a half times the cost of the program. Cohen et al demonstrated costs savings of $58.36 per person vaccinated. 4
In an international study, cost savings were estimated at an average of $47 for every person vaccinated in a study published in 19955
A study in healthy employees aged between 18 and 64 found that those who were vaccinated against influenza had:
- 25% fewer episodes of upper respiratory tract illness
- 43% fewer days off work because upper respiratory illness
- 44% fewer visits to doctors because of upper respiratory illness6
Influenza costs Australian industry 1.5 million working days per year 7
2. Nichol, KL et al. The effectiveness of vaccination against influenza in healthy working adults. New England Journal of Medicine, 1995, 333; 889 – 93.
3. Nichol Kl. Cost benefit analysis and of a strategy to vaccinate healthy working adults against influenza. Annuals of Internal medicine 2001; 161;749-759
4. Cohen et al. J Occup Health Safety19(;2003 167-182)
5. Nichol Kl. Cost benefit analysis and of a strategy to vaccinate healthy working adults against influenza. Annuals of Internal medicine 2001; 161;749-759
6. NicholL KL, Lind A, Margolis KL and al. The effectiveness of vaccination against influenza in healthy, working adults NEJM 1995 ;333:889-893
7. Aldrich R, Hensley MJ Vaccination against Influenza Infection. Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand . Medical Journal of Australia 1993; 158: 634-637