A systematic review and meta-analysis of the direct epidemiological and economic effects of seasonal influenza vaccination on healthcare workers

Chisato Imai; Michiko Toizumi; Lisa Hall; Stephen Lambert; Kate Halton; Katharina Merollini

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0198685

Back

A systematic review and meta-analysis of the direct epidemiological and economic effects of seasonal influenza vaccination on healthcare workers

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

A systematic review and meta-analysis of the direct epidemiological and economic effects of seasonal influenza vaccination on healthcare workers

Chisato Imai, Michiko Toizumi, Lisa Hall, Stephen Lambert, Kate Halton and Katharina Merollini

PLoS One, Vol.13(6), e0198685

2018

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0198685

Files and links (2)

pdf

PDF - Published Version (Open Access)2.34 MBDownload View

Published VersionPDF - Published Version (Open Access)CC BY V4.0, Open Access

url

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0198685View

Published Version

Abstract

biology and life sciences,

economics,

health care,

health economics,

immunology,

infectious disease control,

infectious diseases,

influenza,

labor economics,

mathematical and statistical techniques,

mathematics,

medicine and health sciences,

meta-analysis

Background: Influenza vaccination is a commonly used intervention to prevent influenza infection in healthcare workers (HCWs) and onward transmission to other staff and patients. We undertook a systematic review to synthesize the latest evidence of the direct epidemiological and economic effectiveness of seasonal influenza vaccination among HCW. Methods: We conducted a systematic search of MEDLINE/PubMed, Scopus, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials from 1980 through January 2018. All studies comparing vaccinated and non-vaccinated (i.e. placebo or non-intervention) groups of HCWs were included. Research articles that focused on only patient-related outcomes or monovalent A(H1N1)pdm09 vaccines were excluded. Two reviewers independently selected articles and extracted data. Pooled-analyses were conducted on morbidity outcomes including laboratory-confirmed influenza, influenza-like illnesses (ILI), and absenteeism. Economic studies were summarized for the characteristics of methods and findings. Results: Thirteen articles met eligibility criteria: three articles were randomized controlled studies and ten were cohort studies. Pooled results showed a significant effect on laboratory-confirmed influenza incidence but not ILI. While the overall incidence of absenteeism was not changed by vaccine, ILI absenteeism was significantly reduced. The duration of absenteeism was also shortened by vaccination. All published economic evaluations consistently found that the immunization of HCW was cost saving based on crude estimates of avoided absenteeism by vaccination. No studies, however, comprehensively evaluated both health outcomes and costs of vaccination programs to examine cost-effectiveness. Discussion: Our findings reinforced the influenza vaccine effects in reducing infection incidence and length of absenteeism. A better understanding of the incidence of absenteeism and comprehensive economic program evaluations are required to ensure the best possible management of ill HCWs and the investment in HCW immunization in increasingly constrained financial environments. These steps are fundamental to establish sustainability and cost-effectiveness of vaccination programs and underpin HCW immunization policy.

Details

Title: A systematic review and meta-analysis of the direct epidemiological and economic effects of seasonal influenza vaccination on healthcare workers
Authors: Chisato Imai (Author) - Macquarie University
Michiko Toizumi (Author) - Nagasaki University, Japan
Lisa Hall (Author) - University of Queensland
Stephen Lambert (Author) - University of Queensland
Kate Halton (Author) - Queensland University of Technology
Katharina Merollini (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering
Publication details: PLoS One, Vol.13(6), e0198685; 16
Publisher: Public Library of Science
Date published: 2018
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0198685
ISSN: 1932-6203
Copyright note: Copyright © 2018 Imai et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Organisation Unit: University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; School of Health and Sport Sciences - Legacy; School of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Legacy; School of Health - Public Health
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99451360902621
Output Type: Journal article

Metrics

11 File views/ downloads

674 Record Views

17 Times Cited - Web of Science

See more details

InCites Highlights

These are selected metrics from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool, related to this output

Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration; International collaboration
Web Of Science research areas: Public, Environmental & Occupational Health

UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This output has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:

Source: InCites