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medpundit |
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Tuesday, August 20, 2002On average, a person who comes down with the flu loses 2.8 days at work, meaning about 398 dollars in lost wages, the study concluded, based on previous studies and Labor Department statistics. Researchers said that visiting a doctor and getting a flu shot would save about dlrs 30. Using one of three symptom-shortening antiviral medications resulted in similar savings. We would save even more money if we never took vacations and if we worked through the weekends. I have to agree with the CDC official on this one: While flu vaccine is beneficial to healthy adults and may get them back to work sooner, the priority should be vaccinating more of the highest-risk people, flu expert Dr. Carolyn Bridges at the federal Centers for Disease Control said. "When you look at vaccination of healthy adults, the bulk of economic benefit is decreased absenteeism; the benefit for the elderly is reduced medical costs and fewer complications that require hospitalization," she said. "That's something important we need to consider when we're allocating our resources." For the past two years the makers of flu vaccine have had trouble manufacturing enough to adequately immunize those at highest risk. It's hard to believe they can supply enough to immunize the entire population. Word is that everything will be fine this year, but it would be a pity if those most in need of the vaccine's protection should go without because it was depleted by healthy people trying to save a few bucks in lost pay. posted by Sydney on 8/20/2002 06:34:00 AM 0 comments 0 Comments: |
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