DO HEALTHY PEOPLE NEED TO GET VACCINATED?

Rationale for vaccination of healthy adults• Absenteeism due to influenza in the adult

workforce impacts on productivity• Influenza infection causes disruption of

business, educational and social activities• Illness due to influenza interferes with childcare

and other domestic activities• Vaccination reduces the chance of healthy

adults spreading infection to those at risk of serious disease

Cost effectiveness ofinfluenza vaccination

• In 1995, among individuals aged 18–64 years, influenza was responsible for:– 200 million days of restricted activity– 100 million days of bed disability– 75 million cases of work absenteeism– 22 million healthcare provider visits

• On average, vaccinating healthy working adults is cost saving– Mean savings of US$ 13.66 per person vaccinated– Vaccination generates a net saving 95% of the time

Nichol KL. Arch Intern Med 2001; 161: 749–59.

Influenza vaccination benefitin healthy, working adults

1997–98• Vaccine virus differed from the

predominant circulating viruses

• Vaccine efficacy: 50%• Vaccination did not reduce

influenza-like illness (ILI), physician visits or lost workdays

• Net societal cost: US$ 65.59 per person compared with no vaccination

1998–99• Vaccine and predominant

circulating viruses were well matched

• Vaccine efficacy: 86%• Vaccination reduced:

– ILI by 34%– physician visits by 42%– lost workdays by 32%

• Net societal cost: US$ 11.17 per person compared with no vaccination

Bridges CB et al. JAMA 2000; 284: 1655–63.

Influenza vaccination benefitin healthy, working adults

Bridges CB et al. JAMA 2000; 284: 1655–63.

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Placebo group Vaccine group

Lost workdays reduced by 32% in 1998–99

• Double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial

• Healthy adults 18–64 years employedfull-time by a US manufacturing company

• n = 1191

Benefits of influenza vaccination

• In the elderly and those at risk of severe or complicated influenza, vaccination substantially reduces the risk of illness, hospitalisation or death

• For people in regular contact with the above risk groups (e.g. healthcare workers or family members) vaccination reduces the risk of them infecting their contacts

• For other people, influenza vaccination reduces the financial and social costs of illness

By courtesy of APACIAsia-Pacific Advisory Committee on influenzawww.apaci-flu.com