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A simulation model was constructed to assess the relative costs and cost-effectiveness of different screening and vaccination strategies for dealing with hospital incidents of varicella exposure, compared with current policies, using data from published sources and a hospital survey. The mean number of incidents per hospital year was 3.9, and the mean annual cost of managing these incidents was pounds 5170. Vaccination of all staff would reduce annual incidents to 2.2 at a net cost of pounds 48,900 per incident averted. Screening all staff for previous varicella, testing those who are uncertain or report no previous varicella, and vaccinating those who test negative for VZV antibodies, reduces annual incidents to 2.3 and gives net savings of pounds 440 per incident averted. Sensitivity analyses do not greatly alter the ranking of the options. Some form of VZV vaccination strategy for health care workers may well prove a cost-effective use of health care resources.

Original publication

DOI

10.1017/s0950268897007887

Type

Journal

Epidemiol Infect

Publication Date

10/1997

Volume

119

Pages

209 - 220

Keywords

Chickenpox, Chickenpox Vaccine, Cost Savings, Cost-Benefit Analysis, Cross Infection, Decision Trees, Health Care Costs, Humans, Incidence, Infection Control, Mass Screening, Personnel, Hospital, Sensitivity and Specificity, Vaccination