This is a really glaring example of dumb stuff from the Minister of Health on down.
The comments “Ministers don’t set the price of treatment that is not funded by the government” and "The minister says he is aware that the cost for some who pay for a flu immunisation can be as low as $20" ignore that:
(1) the Minister -could- set the price of vaccination - he just hasn't, and doesn't want to own up for being asleep on the job;
(2) what consolation is it that some vaccinations, he says, cost only $20 - does that mean those of us who can't find that bargain provider are just, well, out of luck or stupid; and
(3) the cost of one seriously unwell flu patient - or, for that matter, the $350 (!) that a DHB is paying per patient for GP consults - so far outstrips the cost of making vaccines free that this is not some sort of difficult question: the Minister's decision to do nothing here will cost -more-; plus
(4) oh, by the way, some
unvaccinated people will die.
If you get the chance, ask the Minister or your MP:
- has the Minister asked for advice on the costs and benefits of either making the vaccine free or capping the cost?
- has the Minister done -anything- to try to improve flu vaccine uptake?
I had the flu shot in May, along with my parents and brother. They came up to Auckland for my daughters birthday. Unfortunately my daughter caught the flu from kindy, and we all proceeded to come down with it over the week. She was due to have her flu vaccine the week she came down with it. So either we caught a strain not covered by this year's vaccine, or the vaccine stopped it from being severe. All of us adults had not had the flu in years, decades even. It was awful. We were lucky that none of us had to engage with the health system. It absolutely enrages me that the govt is not doing more to engage the public and make vaccines free for all- even if they only do it for this year. I'm in counties manukau dhb and the thought of needing hospitalization terrifies me, Middlemore is too overwhelmed. So many vulnerable people being thrown under the bus, yet again 😔
There are so many easy solves to this, it staggers me that none of the people who could make it happen are doing any of it. Ministry of Health could organise vaccinating all the kids in schools for that "as low as $20" bargain cost and cut out the GP consult costs as well as the cost of wrangling kids there. Honestly, the figures quoted in this article are hair raising and it's absolutely galling that we can't even donate a free vaccine to someone because it'll cost ?????? dollars.
I got my flu vax this year (first time I’ve paid for it as I was a nurse prior to becoming a sahm) and it was $35. I have 3 kids 5 and under that have never had it before, so would need 2 doses each. That would be $210 to protect them. That’s a lot of money, and I doubt many others in my neighbourhood could afford that either. I’ve seen a few Māori health providers and pacific health providers in my area offering free flu vaccines alongside other necessary vaccines (covid and measles) at some special events, which is great, but it should be available for all without needing the host special events. It’s like what they were saying with the covid vax, we all need to be able to access it to protect ourselves, our family and our community.
I just did a quick check and neither of the two pharmacies nor the two med practices near me have flu jabs on their price list, so I have no way of knowing what the cost is at different places.
I have nursed people from all walks of life fighting for their lives with influenza.
It is serious. By investing in free vaccinations for all it would stop the whole “ambulance at the bottom of the cliff” issue we seem to find ourselves in.
If you can feed back to Lydia in Wellington Emily - she is still employed
while on maternity leave so she should theoretically still be able to get the flu vaccine through her employer. She just might need to contact them to organise it.
Thanks for writing this article Emily, such important mahi.
Our local medical centre let me get jabs for my kids and myself on tick. Still an expense I need to navigate but at least we could just get it done and then find the money for it down the track.
I am gobsmacked that it costs $11. I always pay for my partner and kids to get the vaccine, I am lucky enough to get it free from work, but it certainly is a cost I have to be prepared for. I feel lucky we can manage to afford this and sad for families who can’t access it. I believe it should be free for those in the lower socio economic group of the population. If there is any way to contribute towards paying for some of these people to access the vaccine I would be happy to contribute. Thanks for highlighting this important issue.
I shared the article about Middlemore being over run, and when I asked the (mostly) rhetorical question with "remind me why we aren't in Covid Alert Level Red" all I got back was "that article doesn't mention covid!" Others and myself pointed out that the precautions we take to protect ourselves and others from covid-19, also protect us from other illnesses. As for Flu Vaccine, yes, price will always be a factor, and not being able to easily see what pricing is where...
This is a really glaring example of dumb stuff from the Minister of Health on down.
The comments “Ministers don’t set the price of treatment that is not funded by the government” and "The minister says he is aware that the cost for some who pay for a flu immunisation can be as low as $20" ignore that:
(1) the Minister -could- set the price of vaccination - he just hasn't, and doesn't want to own up for being asleep on the job;
(2) what consolation is it that some vaccinations, he says, cost only $20 - does that mean those of us who can't find that bargain provider are just, well, out of luck or stupid; and
(3) the cost of one seriously unwell flu patient - or, for that matter, the $350 (!) that a DHB is paying per patient for GP consults - so far outstrips the cost of making vaccines free that this is not some sort of difficult question: the Minister's decision to do nothing here will cost -more-; plus
(4) oh, by the way, some
unvaccinated people will die.
If you get the chance, ask the Minister or your MP:
- has the Minister asked for advice on the costs and benefits of either making the vaccine free or capping the cost?
- has the Minister done -anything- to try to improve flu vaccine uptake?
- if not, why is he in this job?
I had the flu shot in May, along with my parents and brother. They came up to Auckland for my daughters birthday. Unfortunately my daughter caught the flu from kindy, and we all proceeded to come down with it over the week. She was due to have her flu vaccine the week she came down with it. So either we caught a strain not covered by this year's vaccine, or the vaccine stopped it from being severe. All of us adults had not had the flu in years, decades even. It was awful. We were lucky that none of us had to engage with the health system. It absolutely enrages me that the govt is not doing more to engage the public and make vaccines free for all- even if they only do it for this year. I'm in counties manukau dhb and the thought of needing hospitalization terrifies me, Middlemore is too overwhelmed. So many vulnerable people being thrown under the bus, yet again 😔
There are so many easy solves to this, it staggers me that none of the people who could make it happen are doing any of it. Ministry of Health could organise vaccinating all the kids in schools for that "as low as $20" bargain cost and cut out the GP consult costs as well as the cost of wrangling kids there. Honestly, the figures quoted in this article are hair raising and it's absolutely galling that we can't even donate a free vaccine to someone because it'll cost ?????? dollars.
I got my flu vax this year (first time I’ve paid for it as I was a nurse prior to becoming a sahm) and it was $35. I have 3 kids 5 and under that have never had it before, so would need 2 doses each. That would be $210 to protect them. That’s a lot of money, and I doubt many others in my neighbourhood could afford that either. I’ve seen a few Māori health providers and pacific health providers in my area offering free flu vaccines alongside other necessary vaccines (covid and measles) at some special events, which is great, but it should be available for all without needing the host special events. It’s like what they were saying with the covid vax, we all need to be able to access it to protect ourselves, our family and our community.
ELEVEN DOLLARS A JAB.
I just did a quick check and neither of the two pharmacies nor the two med practices near me have flu jabs on their price list, so I have no way of knowing what the cost is at different places.
This is fucking STUPID.
I have nursed people from all walks of life fighting for their lives with influenza.
It is serious. By investing in free vaccinations for all it would stop the whole “ambulance at the bottom of the cliff” issue we seem to find ourselves in.
Did you see this schedule from Pharmac has free influenza vaccines from 1 July for ages 3-12 years https://schedule.pharmac.govt.nz/ScheduleOnline.php?osq=Influenza+vaccine&code=C4525013804
If you can feed back to Lydia in Wellington Emily - she is still employed
while on maternity leave so she should theoretically still be able to get the flu vaccine through her employer. She just might need to contact them to organise it.
Thanks for writing this article Emily, such important mahi.
Our local medical centre let me get jabs for my kids and myself on tick. Still an expense I need to navigate but at least we could just get it done and then find the money for it down the track.
That's insane! I paid $19.99 for mine at Chemist Warehouse!
I am gobsmacked that it costs $11. I always pay for my partner and kids to get the vaccine, I am lucky enough to get it free from work, but it certainly is a cost I have to be prepared for. I feel lucky we can manage to afford this and sad for families who can’t access it. I believe it should be free for those in the lower socio economic group of the population. If there is any way to contribute towards paying for some of these people to access the vaccine I would be happy to contribute. Thanks for highlighting this important issue.
I shared the article about Middlemore being over run, and when I asked the (mostly) rhetorical question with "remind me why we aren't in Covid Alert Level Red" all I got back was "that article doesn't mention covid!" Others and myself pointed out that the precautions we take to protect ourselves and others from covid-19, also protect us from other illnesses. As for Flu Vaccine, yes, price will always be a factor, and not being able to easily see what pricing is where...