Cost-Benefit Analysis of a Strategy to Vaccinate Healthy Working Adults Against Influenza

Abstract

INFLUENZA IS a major cause of morbidity and mortality affecting up to 25% of the population each year.¹ Elderly and other high-risk persons are especially vulnerable to the serious complications of influenza such as secondary bacterial pneumonia and exacerbations of underlying medical conditions. In these high-risk groups influenza and its associated complications account for approximately 100 000 to 300 000 excess hospitalizations,^1,2 20 000 to 40 000 excess deaths,^3,4 and billions of dollars in health care costs.⁵ Thus elderly and other high-risk persons are specifically targeted for annual vaccination against influenza⁶ and, in fact, vaccination has been shown to be highly cost-effective and even cost saving for these groups.^7,8