Push Underway to Make $300 Vaccine Free for Australians
A top health body is urging the federal government to make the $300 RSV vaccination available for free to thousands of vulnerable Australians as the highly contagious virus spreads across the country.
According to the most recent numbers, approximately 120,000 respiratory syncytial virus cases have been reported across Australia this year.
According to Mater director of infectious diseases Professor Paul Griffin, the symptoms can be severe, and the illness has hospitalized some older persons.
"Unfortunately, a proportion of them do not survive," Griffin said.
Anne Fidler, who caught the illness from her granddaughter, had to deal with various symptoms.
"I had headaches, I had a wheezing in my chest, a bit of a runny nose," Fiddler said the reporter.
According to the most recent numbers, approximately 120,000 respiratory syncytial virus cases have been reported across Australia this year.
According to Mater director of infectious diseases Professor Paul Griffin, the symptoms can be severe, and the illness has hospitalized some older persons.
"Unfortunately, a proportion of them do not survive," Griffin said.
Anne Fidler, who caught the illness from her granddaughter, had to deal with various symptoms.
"I had headaches, I had a wheezing in my chest, a bit of a runny nose," Fiddler said the reporter.
Fidler rapidly worsened as a result of an existing lung illness, necessitating the need for medical care.
"Trying to get breath into my lungs, which was the hard part, that I thought this is not normal," Fidler told me.
Across Australia, pregnant women can receive a free RSV vaccination to safeguard their newborn newborns, who can also receive an immunization product if their mothers have not had the vaccine.
For everyone else, a vaccination costs about $300.
"The vaccine works tremendously well reducing the consequences of RSV infection in older adults and particularly those who are most vulnerable," according to Griffin.
"There are lots of groups that would really like to see this vaccine funded."
"Trying to get breath into my lungs, which was the hard part, that I thought this is not normal," Fidler told me.
Across Australia, pregnant women can receive a free RSV vaccination to safeguard their newborn newborns, who can also receive an immunization product if their mothers have not had the vaccine.
For everyone else, a vaccination costs about $300.
"The vaccine works tremendously well reducing the consequences of RSV infection in older adults and particularly those who are most vulnerable," according to Griffin.
"There are lots of groups that would really like to see this vaccine funded."
This includes the Lung Foundation, whose members have to pay for protection.
"We encourage the Australian government to include the RSV vaccine in the national immunization program for those for whom it is clinically recommended," said Lung Foundation CEO Mark Brooke.
There are now three RSV vaccinations licensed for Australians aged 60 and up, but the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee must approve them before they can be included in the free National Immunisation Program.
The committee has recommended public funding for Pfizer's vaccination for those aged 75 and up, as well as qualified Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander adults, although it has not yet been listed due to cost-effectiveness concerns.
"We encourage the Australian government to include the RSV vaccine in the national immunization program for those for whom it is clinically recommended," said Lung Foundation CEO Mark Brooke.
There are now three RSV vaccinations licensed for Australians aged 60 and up, but the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee must approve them before they can be included in the free National Immunisation Program.
The committee has recommended public funding for Pfizer's vaccination for those aged 75 and up, as well as qualified Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander adults, although it has not yet been listed due to cost-effectiveness concerns.
The corporation stated that it was actively engaging with the Department of Health.
Two additional businesses, GlaxoSmithKline and Moderna, have acknowledged that they have submitted funding applications.
Meanwhile, vulnerable Australians are encouraged to take precautions.
"Wearing a mask, or staying away from your family members when they are unwell, are all little precautions that we can take that go a long way to keeping you safe," Brooke told me.
Two additional businesses, GlaxoSmithKline and Moderna, have acknowledged that they have submitted funding applications.
Meanwhile, vulnerable Australians are encouraged to take precautions.
"Wearing a mask, or staying away from your family members when they are unwell, are all little precautions that we can take that go a long way to keeping you safe," Brooke told me.