Hepatitis B virus vaccine. An analysis of its potential use in medical workers
J. D. Hamilton
At the Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, there are approximately
ten recognized hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections per year in employees.
The hospital's hepatitis control program costs $91,995 per year, including
costs for workman's compensation, hyperimmune globulin, laboratory tests,
lost revenue, liability, personnel, and medical treatment. A program to
immunize high-risk medical center personnel and to accommodate residual HBV
problems in nonimmunized employees would cost $206,304 in the first year.
By seven years the cumulative costs of an immunization program would equal
those without a program and at ten years would be cost saving ($746,742
with program v $919,950 without a program). Given certain assumptions, HBV
vaccine is a cost-beneficial alternative for a major employee health
hazard.
