From April, there will be a fee for administering Covid and flu vaccines, which is set bring them in line with all other adult vaccination programmes. The cost of the vaccines themselves will continue to be covered by the States, but the new costs for both vaccines will be paid to GP practices directly.
Deputy Jayne Ozanne called this a short-sighted approach.
‘Surely we should be encouraging the elderly and vulnerable to have free flu and Covid vaccines, as they’re the most at risk,’ she said.
‘While I know that those on income support get a reduced cost for that administration, and those with insurance obviously get no cost – as always, it’s those who lie between those who get penalised the most. And at the moment, they tend to be the elderly and the vulnerable.
‘I think we’re being very short-sighted. This is likely to cost us more in the long term. I would’ve thought we should’ve been considering a targeted policy, similar to that of the NHS, where there’s an age profile for those who get free vaccines. There’s a reason why the NHS do that – they don’t want bed-blocking – and I would’ve suggested that we need the same.’
Before the Covid pandemic, service users paid their GP practice for the administration of flu vaccines. As the pandemic developed, the decision was made by Health & Social Care to fully fund both the flu vaccine and Covid vaccine. This model has remained in place, but having transitioned out of the pandemic response, HSC is reverting to the original model.
Deputy Ozanne has raised questions with HSC to consider a targeted policy, including whether it had carried out a cost benefit analysis.
‘All I’ve been told is “we just can’t afford it at the moment”,’ she said.
‘I think that may have long term consequences for us in terms of cost. It’s a false economy.’
The administration of all vaccines within the routine programme for those aged 18 and under remains free at the point of access. Practices will set their own charges for the service.
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