The potential economic value of influenza vaccination for healthcare workers in The Netherlands.

Marjan J Meijboom,Eelko Hak,Josien Riphagen‐Dalhuisen

doi:10.1111/irv.12558

Abstract

BackgroundDespite the clinical evidence, influenza vaccination coverage of healthcare workers remains low. To assess the health economic value of implementing an influenza immunization program among healthcare workers (HCW) in University Medical Centers (UMCs) in the Netherlands, a cost‐benefit model was developed using a societal perspective.Methods/PatientsThe model was based on a trial performed among all UMCs in the Netherlands that included both hospital staff and patients admitted to the pediatrics and internal medicine departments. The model structure and parameters estimates were based on the trial and complemented with literature research, and the impact of uncertainty explored with sensitivity analyses.ResultsIn a base‐case scenario without vaccine coverage, influenza‐related annual costs were estimated at € 410 815 for an average UMC with 8000 HCWs and an average occupancy during the influenza period of 6000 hospitalized patients. Of these costs, 82% attributed to the HCWs and 18% were patient‐related. With a vaccination coverage of 15.47%, the societal program’s savings were € 2861 which corresponds to a saving of € 270.53 per extended hospitalization. Univariate sensitivity analyses show that the results are most sensitive to changes in the model parameters vaccine effectiveness in reducing influenza‐like illness (ILI) and the vaccination‐related costs.ConclusionIn addition to the decreased burden of patient morbidity among hospitalized patients, the effects of the hospital immunization program slightly outweigh the economic investments. These outcomes may support healthcare policymakers’ recommendations about the influenza vaccination program for healthcare workers.

Highlights

It has been demonstrated that vaccination decreases influenza infection rates among healthy adults, reduces the probability of viral transmission in healthcare settings, and indirectly benefits vulnerable patients by reducing the probability of becoming infected
This study reports the health economic benefits of a vaccination program for healthcare workers, for an academic hospital with an occupancy of 6000 hospitalized patients during the influenza period and 8000 HCWs involved
In other words, based on the trial data, it is calculated that per 1% increase in vaccine coverage of HCWs, 0.1139% less patients would develop influenza and/or pneumonia

Summary

Introduction

Despite the available clinical evidence,[1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8] and the recognition that influenza vaccination has both a direct and an indirect medical effect, influenza vaccination coverage remains still very low among healthcare workers (HCWs).[2,3,4,6,8,9,10] It has been demonstrated that vaccination decreases influenza infection rates among healthy adults, reduces the probability of viral transmission in healthcare settings, and indirectly benefits vulnerable patients by reducing the probability of becoming infected. To assess the health economic value of implementing an influenza immunization program among healthcare workers (HCW) in University Medical Centers (UMCs) in the Netherlands, a cost-benefit model was developed using a societal perspective. Results: In a base-case scenario without vaccine coverage, influenza-related annual costs were estimated at € 410 815 for an average UMC with 8000 HCWs and an average occupancy during the influenza period of 6000 hospitalized patients. Conclusion: In addition to the decreased burden of patient morbidity among hospitalized patients, the effects of the hospital immunization program slightly outweigh the economic investments These outcomes may support healthcare policymakers’ recommendations about the influenza vaccination program for healthcare workers

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