Workplace influenza vaccination in private hospital setting: a cost-benefit analysis

Mohd Ab Hadi Tohiar; Safurah Jaafar; Azimatun Noor Aizuddin; Tan Kok Leong; Azrin Syahida Abdul Rahim

doi:10.35371/aoem.2022.34.e3

Workplace influenza vaccination in private hospital setting: a cost-benefit analysis

Ann Occup Environ Med. 2022 Feb 17:34:e3. doi: 10.35371/aoem.2022.34.e3. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Mohd Ab Hadi Tohiar^{1

2}, Safurah Jaafar¹, Azimatun Noor Aizuddin³, Tan Kok Leong⁴, Azrin Syahida Abdul Rahim¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Community Medicine, Business of Administration Healthcare Management, School of Medicine, International Medical University Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
² Emergency Department, KPJ Selangor Specialist Hospital, Shah Alam, Malaysia.
³ Department of Community Health, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
⁴ Department of Community Medicine, School of Medicine, International Medical University Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Abstract

Background: Influenza illness causes several disruptions to the workforce. The absenteeism that often ensues has economic implications for employers. This study aimed to estimate the cost-benefit of influenza vaccination in a healthcare setting from the employer's perspective.

Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted in a private hospital in 2018-2019 comparing voluntary vaccinated with non-vaccinated employees with influenza vaccine. The analyses were made based on self-reporting on absenteeism and presenteeism from Influenza-like illnesses (ILIs). The costs incurred, both direct and indirect costs, were included in the study. A cost-benefit analysis was performed by measuring the cost of the vaccination program. The costs of absenteeism and reduced productivity were calculated using 3 hypothesised levels of effectiveness in the following percentage of productivity of 30%, 50%, and 70%. The costs were also calculated based on four scenarios: with and without operating income and with and without replacement. The benefits of the influenza vaccination from the employer's perspective were analysed. The benefit to cost ratio was determined.

Results: A total of four hundred and twenty-one respondents participated. The influenza vaccination rate was 63.0%. The rate of ILI of 38.1% was significantly lower among vaccinated. The ILI-related absenteeism reported was also significantly lower amongst vaccinated employees at 30% compared to 70% non-vaccinated. Employers could save up to USD 18.95 per vaccinated employee when only labour cost was included or 54.0% of cost savings. The cost-saving rose to USD 155.56 when the operating income per employee was also included. The benefit to cost ratio confirmed that the net cost-benefit gained from the vaccination was more than the net cost of vaccination.

Conclusions: Influenza vaccination for working adults was cost-saving and cost-beneficial when translated into financial investments for the employer. A workplace vaccination demonstrates a significant cost-benefit strategy to be applied in any institutional setting.

Keywords: Absenteeism; Cost-benefit; Influenza vaccination; Influenza-Like illness; Workplace.