PHARMACOECONOMIC EVALUATION OF INFLUENZA AND PNEUMOCOCCAL VACCINATION IN EMPLOYEES OF THE JOINT STOCK COMPANY "RUSSIAN RAILWAYS" (JSCO "RZD") ON INVESTMENT FOR THE EMPLOYER

Abstract

Objectives: To determine the clinical and economical effectiveness of influenza and pneumococcal vaccination in working adults without occupational exposures on respiratory diseases from an employer’s perspective. Methods. The study involved about 2,000 employees of the Joint Stock Company «Russian Railways» (JSCo «RZD») followed for 7 months during the 2013-2014 influenza season to collect data on influenza like illness (ILI) and pneumococcal respiratory like illness. Morbidity estimates from different observation groups was calculated using the Pearson χ2 criterion (with Bonferroni correction, if needed) and using the Marascuillo procedure. The calculations are performed in Microsoft Excel (the applied statistical software was not used). The author presented the method of direct and indirect costs calculation. Pharmacoeconomic evaluation for the JSCo «RZD» was defined according to the impact of the 2013 influenza vaccination programme (292.180 employees were vaccinated). Results. Acute respiratory morbidity was significantly lower in vaccinated employees than in nonvaccinated. The vaccine effectiveness was 73.9% against influenza and 84.6% against pneumococcal respiratory infections. The morbidity differences between tobacco smokers and non-smokers is not proven. Due 292.180 employees influenza immunization the direct costs for JSCo "RZD" amounted to 114.2 million roubles (2.54 million EUR), indirect costs estimated at 1.9 billion rubles (42.2 million EUR). According to the generated modelling, the pneumococcal (PPSV23) immunization programme became cost-effective starting from the second year after vaccination and should continue to increase.