Dutheil F, Delaire P, Boudet G, Rouffiac K, Djeriri K, Souweine B, Chamoux A
Service santé-travail-environnement, CHU de Clermont-Ferrand, 63001 Clermont-Ferrand, France.
Med Mal Infect. 2008 Nov;38(11):567-73. doi: 10.1016/j.medmal.2008.09.019. Epub 2008 Nov 12.
The aim of this study was to compare the cost of vaccination for the Clermont-Ferrand University hospital (CHU) personnel and the cost of sick leave among vaccinated and non-vaccinated employees in 2003, 2004, and 2005.
The study included 7256 CHU staff (medical and non-medical personnel). The cost of sick leave was calculated on the basis of short-term disease (four to nine days) over the three months of the epidemic season in 2004, 2005, and 2006.
In 2005, the overall cost of vaccination was 4.02 euros per vaccinated employee. Over the three years, the total sick leave reached 804 days for employees vaccinated against 5670 for non-vaccinated employees. In 2003, 2004, and 2005, the vaccinal coverage was 13, 20.5, and 30.1%, the mean duration of sick leave was 0.16, 0.17, and 0.18 day among vaccinated staff, and 0.26, 0.39, and 0.34 day among non-vaccinated staff corresponding to a benefit per vaccinated employee of 5, 26, and 20 euros, respectively for each year. The total benefit for the institution was 86,458 euros (4630+38,168+43,660). If the vaccinated rate of 75% recommended by the Haute Autorité de santé (HAS) had been reached, the additional benefit would have been 250,193 euros (33,157+152,256+65,180).
The number of sick leave days and the related cost were approximately twice less important for vaccinated employees, economically justifying this vaccination including a period of weak epidemic, as checked over three consecutive years.
