Surely someone has done the maths on vaccinations.

[andrewducker]

Today I spent £108 on getting myself vaccinated against Flu and Covid.

Which led me to wonder what the cost of days off is to the economy. And how far off we are from it being worth the government vaccinating everyone.

Comments

[lilysea]

Yes, especially since if they counted how long COVID can mean some people are unable to work for years and need Disability benefits, the calculations really change - the vaccine costs much less than even 6 months Disability benefits, and some people with long COVID have now been too Disabled to work since 2020, with no sign of getting better any time soon...

[redbird]

Someone has done the math. This is why just about all the for-profit health insurance companies in the United States announced that they will continue to cover covid (and other) vaccines, at no cost to the patient--it's cheaper than paying for doctor's visits, medication, and hospitalization.

It is weird living in a time and place where bloody-minded late stage capitalism, in the form of the companies that as a matter of policy delay payments and make people jump through hoops to get necessary treatment, is doing better than the US Department of Health, at anything. Aetna may not care if I live or die, but if RFK Jr does, it's in the pro-death direction. But that fucker in the White House decided to hand health policy over to Bobby Brainworm and his crew of covid denialists.

[cmcmck]

But no! Instead they go down a road which makes it more likely that hospitals will fill up with older folk this Winter! It's just crazy!

[liv]

Yeah, JCVI did the maths but they did it in a really oversimplified way. They counted the cost of hospitalizations and concluded that outcome is rare enough in under 75s who have probably already had Covid by now that it's not worth vaccinating them – the NNTT is too high. But they did not in fact count the cost of working age people being off sick for several weeks a year, and ignored long covid altogether. That's how we got into this terrible situation with NHS vaccines restricted to a really tiny group.

[andrewducker]

That's certainly the impression I've had. Thank you.

[lilysea]

They also haven't counted that COVID

a) can cause type 2 diabetes in people who didn't previously have it (because it damages the pancreas)

b) increases the risk of certain cancers (because it messes with the immune system)

c) can restart some cancers that were in remission (because it messes with the immune system)

d) increases the risk of heart attack and stroke for at least 2 years

e) increases the risk of dementia

[channelpenguin]

It is bound to make sense.

I just wish could go and get it done as a walk in like it seems you did.

[andrewducker]

Looks like you can get vaccinated at pharmacies in Germany. Although you probably have to book.

[armiphlage]

They're free in my province (Ontario. Canada) - you can just walk into any pharmacy, or book an appointment to avoid lineups.

At this morning's management meeting, our unplanned absence metric showed 18 people out sick. So my factory is also providing vaccinations on-site during work hours next month. At least in our factory, it's worth paying people full wages while they get their shots.

[reverancepavane]

And Australia.

[channelpenguin]

Really? I've never heard of that. You got any sources I could follow up?

[channelpenguin]

Though my doc is very good at getting me them for free, even though I'm not technically in any vulnerable group.

[channelpenguin]

A few years ago, the company I worked for did the same, and it used to be common for flu shots in bigger companies in London back in the days. I'm always amazed how often people get sick - and thankful that I'm (so far) super healthy.

[calimac]

Why were you charged £108? Is that the NHS co-payment? (My Medicare covers most of my medical bills, but for some procedures I have to chip something in - that's called a co-payment. It's not charged for vaccines, though.) Or did you get your vaccinations outside the NHS and that's what the provider charged?

[andrewducker]

https://www.sbk.org/sbk-en/advice-services/precaution-and-prevention/vaccinations/covid-19-vaccinations/

Section "How you will receive"

[andrewducker]

Outside of the NHS. I'm not in any of the groups that get free coverage.

[channelpenguin]

Years out of date, I think. Gov not funding universal vaccination any more AFAIK. I could be wrong. My GP seems to have to write some sort of justification.

Also demand is nearly zero. I had to go on a waiting list last year until the surgery had enough people to warrant using 2 vials (12 people). This is in a city of 55k+ people with a country catchment area.

[andrewducker]

Ah well. Thank you.

[juan_gandhi]

Wow, it's not free in your country!

[andrewducker]

Only if you're in an "at risk" group.

Which is now people over 75, weakened immune system, or in a care home.

[bugshaw]

I understand the vaccines are good at preventing hospitalisations, but I don't know how good the current vaccines+strains are at stopping you catching it (and isolating) or getting low level illness (with those few days off work) or sequelae. I'm still inclined to hope that they're better than nothing.
I've not had one yet, not eligible for NHS vaccine and I had Covid about 6 weeks ago so I'll wait till November for a private one. I have the money and I like to support my local community pharmacy who are always helpful in other ways.

[andrewducker]

It's certainly supposed to make the infections less severe. Whether it turns low-level into asymptomatic I don't know.