OBJECTIVES: Trivalent influenza vaccine (TIV), which contains two strains of influenza A and one strain of influenza B is recommended by the Brazilian government to prevent influenza. However, co-circulation of two distinct B lineages and difficulties in predicting which lineage will predominate in the next season led to the development of quadrivalent influenza vaccine (QIV).  The aim of the study was to estimate the public health (epidemiological) and economic impact of the QIV over four influenza seasons (2010 to 2013) in the Brazilian population in comparison with TIV. METHODS: A static model published by Reed et al. in 2012 was adapted to Brazil and stratified by age group. The model retrospectively calculated impact using vaccine effectiveness and coverage, illness incidence, morbidity, mortality and costs related to influenza from the Public Healthcare System and Society perspectives. Vaccine effectiveness by strain and by age in the Brazilian population is not available; therefore we used vaccine effectiveness from Clements et al., which takes into account some B-lineage cross-protection. Epidemiological and resource use data were obtained from the Brazilian public system database (DATASUS) and regional studies. Costs were expressed in 2015 Brazilian Real, vaccine cost was not considered and exchange rate used was $1.00USD=3.14BRL. RESULTS: The use of QIV vaccination instead of TIV in the years from 2010 to 2013 would have avoided a total of additional 654,018 cases, 323,336 consultations, 7,536 hospitalizations and 1,122 deaths due to influenza. In 2013, year with high B circulation and high mismatch, considering a public payer and societal perspective, respectively, QIV vaccination could have avoided additional influenza costs estimated at BRL 11 million and 62 million (USD 3.5 million and 20 million).  CONCLUSIONS: Vaccination with QIV for the Brazilian population is expected to result in public health benefit and less resource use when compared to TIV.