Vaccinate for varicella

You may want to start vaccinating your health care workers for varicella. A study from the Medical College of Virginia in Richmond recently showed that potential cost savings can be substantial $59 per person vaccinated.¹ That figure is based on a vaccine efficacy of 70% and the assumption that no recipients would need to be furloughed as a result of rash from the two-dose series. If fewer than 3.2% were furloughed for 14 days, the study reported, vaccination still would result in a net cost savings.

^Reference

1. Nettleman MD, Schmid M. The cost effectiveness of using varicella vaccine in healthcare workers. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 1997; 18:504-508.