newsGP - COVID-19 vaccines to move onto NIP
www1.racgp.org.au
The vaccines will no longer be available as a ‘universal program’ from 1 October, bringing significant changes to free vaccine eligibility.

From 1 October, free COVID-19 vaccines will only be available under the NIP for:

  • adults aged 75 years and over (one dose every six months)
  • adults aged 65–74 years (one dose every 12 months)
  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 50–74 years (one dose every 12 months)
  • all adults aged 18 years and over with severe immunocompromise (one dose every 12 months).
  • Dimand@aussie.zoneEnglish
    10·
    7 days ago

    There seems to be no news about how much they will cost. Though some estimates seem to indicate it could be in the $100 to $200 AUD range if they palm on the full price. If so, that’s pretty wild.

    I was hoping that as a result of this, the flu shot would be added as a free vaccine for all, but seems like the money crunch is unstoppable.

      • Dimand@aussie.zoneEnglish
        3·
        6 days ago

        I would like that, but from what I read, the flu shot is about 10 times cheaper to make in the first place. I’m not sure if the government is keen to pay for 80% of a shot. At that point they might as well keep it free for everyone.

    • Zarobi@aussie.zoneEnglish
      10·
      7 days ago

      Seems like conflicting messaging going on here already.

      Professor Paul Griffin, Director of Infectious Diseases at Mater Health Services, said the transition ‘certainly shouldn’t be a signal to people that it’s any less of a concern or that we’re not wanting to get as many people vaccinated as possible’.

      ‘We need to handle the commentary really carefully and make sure that people don’t see this as a sign that COVID is less important, or less of a concern, because it’s definitely not the case and not the intention,’ he said.

      ‘Based on current evidence and the changed epidemiology, the vaccination program will focus on maintaining protection against severe COVID-19 in those most at risk.’

      ‘We know that so many people are not up to date with their COVID vaccines and hopefully we see this as an opportunity to promote access and get more people vaccinated under the new program, rather than it being something that has the opposite effect.’

      We know that it’s harder than ever to get people to get vaccinated and any access or logistical challenges can have a significant impact,’ he said. ‘We do really need to make sure we get that right so that people don’t need to go to multiple locations to potentially get access, or think it’s too hard such that they avoid or delay it. ‘That’s something I think we really need to work on, to make sure there’s no additional barriers.’

      So they’re not subsidising it anymore, it will price most people out, and clearly it’s less of a priority if they’re reducing subsidy by 100%, but they also want as many people vaccinated as possible, and ensure it is still a priority, but also only focus on the most affected groups, but also not have any barriers to access.

      You can’t have all those things at the same time, mate. They’re mutually exclusive.

      • budget_biochemist@slrpnk.netEnglish
        6·
        7 days ago

        You can’t have all those things at the same time, mate. They’re mutually exclusive.

        It’s because scientists/medical staff and the politicians have different goals.

        Politicians want to “move on” from anything about COVID-19 because it’s an unpopular topic, and get rid of subsidies to lower budgets.

        The scientists/medical staff know that the threat isn’t over, they are aware it is still a priority, they want as many people vaccinated as possible.