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What?? It's strange to see Australia do something worse than the USA in terms of health care. In the US, the COVID vaccine is free with pretty much all insurance plans, and people get it at the same time as the yearly flu shot.
The government should always subsidize preventative things like vaccines.
Given that Health is usually a Stare Government portfolio matter, this will come down to the state health departments. WA has an annual vaccine programme for the flu, I've been getting both Flu and Covid boosters every year for the last 3-4 years. I didn't realise the federal government has been covering the Covid one all this time. I thought the state paid for both.
It sounds like the Covid Vaccine is moving away from the federal health department. That doesn't mean the states (or some of them at least) might not pick up the tab. So 'Australians could lose access to the free vaccine' in some cases. But the article doesn't specify which Australians, because they don't know. It doesn't come right out and say Australians will lose access to the free vaccine either - because again, they don't actually know.
I hate articles like this. Ambiguous wording leading to probable fearmongering.
I was updating a GP website today to add "COVID vaccines currently free". Flu shots are not though, unless you hit some specific criteria. Bossman says "it'll be in state gov's hands soon so we don't know".
Flu shots are not free though, unless you hit some specific criteria.
I think if if ends up being around the flu shot cost then it's not absurdly expensive, but still might reinforce the notion that it's not important anymore, reducing vaccination rates further (even in vulnerable groups).
Flu shots are free in WA from May 1 - Jul 31.
So it depends on the state.