Cost-Benefit Analysis of Vaccination Against Influenza of Employees from an Academic Medical Centre

Objective: To determine whether vaccination against influenza in the Academic Medical Centre (AMC) of the University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands, may lead to an economic benefit by avoiding the loss in productivity associated with an outbreak of influenza illness among its employees. Design: A newly developed cost-benefit model from an employer's perspective was applied and several scenario and sensitivity analyses were performed. Methods: The model inputs were vaccination-, personnel- and influenza-related elements, which were obtained from data specific to the AMC where possible, otherwise these were based on published literature. The output (net benefit) was defined as the difference between the benefits of vaccination due to reducing workplace absenteeism (productivity) of employees and the costs of vaccination, excluding campaign and administration costs. The net benefits of baseline, vaccination promotion and influenza-persistent scenarios were assessed and sensitivity analysis was performed. Results: The net benefits for all the scenarios was positive, being E120 000, E460 000 and E180 000 (2000 values) for the baseline, vaccination promotion and influenza-persistent scenarios, respectively. The vaccination compliance rate appeared to be the element with greatest impact on the net benefits. Conclusion: An influenza vaccination program in an institution with the characteristics of the AMC can be performed with an economic benefit for the organization. Our results suggest that vaccination of medical residents provides greater economic benefits than vaccination of other personnel.