Sickness absence following a campaign of vaccination against influenza in the workplace

This study was designed as a retrospective cohort study of those employees vaccinated against influenza vs. unvaccinated employees in a service company. The objective was to investigate whether vaccinating employees against influenza in an occupational setting was of any benefit. There were 2,557 persons entered in the study who were in continuous employment between 1 October 1990 and 31 March 1992 of which 23.5% (601) were vaccinated. The study was carried out at First Data Resources Limited in Basildon, Essex UK. The main outcome measure was self-reported influenza sickness lasting four or more days and reduction in sickness absence due to vaccination against influenza. The results were surprising. In the vaccinated members of staff, influenza illness was halved, Relative Risk = 0.46, 95% confidence limits (0.27 < RR < 0.76). The conclusions were that the study showed a significant decrease in sickness absence due to influenza illness, as a result of an active vaccination campaign carried out amongst otherwise healthy individuals in the occupational health environment. This is the first study of this nature in the UK to show statistically significant evidence of benefit from vaccinating healthy employees. It lends support to immunization against influenza in the workplace.