Fianna Fáil TD for Louth Erin McGreehan has called for immediate clarity from the HSE on the cost of the enhanced influenza vaccine for people aged 65 years and older. Her call follows reports that the vaccine was not offered this season because it was “not deemed cost-effective”.
The enhanced vaccines contain an additional ingredient known as an adjuvant that boosts the immune response compared with standard vaccines.
Deputy McGreehan said that influenza cases are doubling nationwide and more than 500 people are currently hospitalised with flu. She stressed that “every measure should be taken to reduce pressure on hospitals”.
Speaking she said:
“The lack of transparency around the cost of these vaccines is extremely concerning. It leaves too many things open to speculation, particularly whether the potential additional costs of hospital overcrowding were fully considered.
“I fully appreciate that the health service has finite funding and resources must be allocated responsibly. But without knowing the cost offered to the HSE for the enhanced vaccine we are left with speculation rather than informed decision-making.
A Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) report last year estimated that switching to a adjuvanted vaccine for people 65 years and older, rather than the standard flu vaccine, may be the best use of resources.
However, the best value option would depend on the price the HSE would need to pay for each type of vaccine and these prices are confidential.
Deputy McGreehan continued:
“If the cost was only marginally higher it would be completely morally unacceptable not to provide a vaccine that is proven to offer enhanced protection and to leave our hospitals to face the brunt of the flu season without adequate measures in place, especially when we know these vaccines offer stronger protection for older adults and could reduce the need for hospital beds.
“Transparency is essential if we are to understand whether the correct choice was made.”
Deputy McGreehan said that with evidence showing enhanced vaccines provide greater protection it must be established whether the HSE had access to them at a price that would have been considered reasonable under HIQA’s cost-effectiveness framework.
“We need clarity on the figures. What was the price? What modelling was used? Were all factors, including the cost of additional hospital capacity, taken into account?
“Without this information we cannot evaluate whether the decision not to offer the enhanced vaccine this winter was the right one.”
For further information, reach out to Erin McGreehan.
ENDS
