Varicella Vaccination for Healthcare Workers at a University Hospital: An Analysis of Costs and Benefits

• Published in: Infection control and hospital epidemiology Vol. 18; no. 6; pp. 405 - 411
• Main Authors: Tennenberg, Alan M., Brassard, Juanita E., Van Lieu, Jaclyn, Drusin, Lewis M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Thorofare, NJ SLACK Incorporated 01-06-1997; Slack; Cambridge University Press
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Chickenpox; Chickenpox - diagnosis; Chickenpox - prevention & control; Cost-Benefit Analysis; Furloughs; Health care; Health care costs; Health care industry; Heart valves; Herpes zoster; Herpes Zoster - diagnosis; Herpes Zoster - prevention & control; Hospitals, University; Human herpesvirus 3; Human viral diseases; Humans; Immunization; Immunization Programs - economics; Immunologic Tests; Infection Control - economics; Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional - prevention & control; Infectious diseases; Medical sciences; New York City; Nursing; Occupational exposure; Personnel, Hospital; Retrospective Studies; Sensitivity and Specificity; Sick Leave - economics; Sick Leave - statistics & numerical data; Vaccination; Vaccines; varicella-zoster virus; Viral diseases; Viral diseases with cutaneous or mucosal lesions and viral diseases of the eye; Viral Vaccines - adverse effects; Viral Vaccines - economics; Viruses; New York City; Human; Costs; Health staff; Vaccination; Absenteeism; Cost benefit analysis; Infection; Immunoprophylaxis; Health economy; Viral disease; Varicella; Hospital; Public health
• ISSN: 0899-823X; 1559-6834
• DOI: 10.1086/647639

Objective: To demonstrate the costs and benefits of vaccinating varicella-susceptible healthcare workers at a university hospital with live, attenuated varicella-zoster virus vaccine. Design: Retrospective review of employee medical records and data on the cost of special paid absence for susceptible healthcare workers after exposure to varicella or herpes zoster. Setting: A 988-bed tertiary-care university hospital. Results: In 1994, 224 hospital employees (3.4%) were susceptible to the varicella-zoster virus. There were 40 exposures to varicella and herpes zoster in that year, involving 29 of the susceptible employees. Nine (31%) of the exposed susceptibles became varicella immune by indirect fluorescent antibody testing subsequent to exposure. Seventeen (59%) have had multiple varicella exposures and special paid absences while employed by the hospital. In 1994, wages paid to healthcare workers while furloughed for the communicable period following varicella exposure totaled $38,463.93. An additional $24,748.74 was paid to replacement workers during that same time. Varicella vaccine to immunize all 224 susceptibles in 1994 would have cost $17,920. Absences due to varicella and herpes zoster exposure also result in disruptions to patient care. Conclusions: Varicella vaccination for varicellasusceptible healthcare workers at a university hospital would result in financial savings and improved patient care. We recommend that other institutions consider the costs and benefits of adopting a varicella immunization program for their susceptible employees