A cost-benefit study of vaccination compares the costs of vaccination to the costs of no vaccination. Direct costs include medical costs, while indirect costs include costs of absenteeism from work or school. Several studies show reductions in absenteeism and influenza-like illness of 35-60% with vaccination, leading to direct savings per year of $1177-2236 per vaccinated person. Vaccination reduces costs from prevented sickness and is therefore considered a cost-effective preventive tool against communicable diseases.

1. Cost Benefit study of vaccination
A cost benefit study applied to
vaccination compares
the costs of vaccination vs the
costs if no-vaccination
Cost savings
= (indirect + direct costs if no
vaccination) - (indirect + direct
costs of vaccination)
 Direct costs are the
costs of disease
(outpatient visits,
hospitalization days…)
 Indirect costs are the
costs of absenteeism

2. Economic benefit of Flu vaccination in company
during winter
(Poland)
No of Absenteeism days
Vaccinated
Unvaccinated
350
Cost for prevention Cost due to Flu
Direct cost
300
Vaccine cost=$4364
250
Direct Costs
Administration cost=$154
200
Indirect costs
150
Cost of side
effects=$290
100
50
0
Total cost=$4808
Déc
Janv
Feb
Mar
Reduction of
absenteeism
by 50 %
Medical costs=0
Indirect costs
Absenteeism
costs=$5985
Total cost=$5985
Apr
Direct savings : $1177 per year
Radiziszewski N, British Camber of commerce in
Poland, No 4/97

3. Economic benefit of flu vaccination in Healthy
Working Population (United States)
Saved lost workdays
%
Unvaccinated Vaccinated
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Saved lost workdays
%
Unvaccinated Vaccinated
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
Reduction of
Reduction of missed
Influenza Like Illness
work
by 60 %
Direct savings : $22,36 per saved work days by 50 %
$2.58 per dollars invested in the vaccination
Campbell et al, JOEM vol 39, Number 5 May
1997

4. Sickness absence following a campaign of
vaccination against influenza in the workplace
•
•
Retrospective cohort study (UK);
Outcome: self reported I.L.I., reduction in sickness
absence;
• Sample: 601 vaccinated w/ flu vaccine,
1956 unvaccinated;
• Results:
– 46 % reduction in influenza sickness.
Leighton et al., Occup Med (1995) 46(2):146-50

5. The effectiveness of vaccination
agains influenza in healthy working adults
Health-related benefits associated with vaccination in 1994-95 season
in 849 subjects from 18 to 64 years of age (USA)
No vaccinated
Vaccinated
125
100
Absenteeism:
Reduced 43%
75
50
25
0
Total sick day
NICHOL KL, Lind A, Margolis KL and al. The effectiveness of vaccination against influenza in
healthy
working adults NEJM 1995;333:889-893

6. Conclusion:
Vaccination is the best tools against
communicable diseases
• Preventive is better than curative
–
–
–
–
–
–
Reduce the probability of being sick,
Reduce absenteeism
Reduce hospitalization cost
Reduce Medical cost
Prevent other costs
No guilty feeling (spreading infectious
diseases to friends and family)
In Short: Cost effective !

7. Conclusion:
Vaccination is the best tools against
communicable diseases
• Preventive is better than curative
–
–
–
–
–
–
Reduce the probability of being sick,
Reduce absenteeism
Reduce hospitalization cost
Reduce Medical cost
Prevent other costs
No guilty feeling (spreading infectious
diseases to friends and family)
In Short: Cost effective !