John Perry
Question:435 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will make a statement on the cost of the annual flu vaccinations (details supplied). [26597/01]
Written Answers. - Vaccination Programme.
Medical card holders in the at risk group obtain influenza immunisation completely free of charge from their general practitioner. The at risk group include persons aged 65 years or older, those with specific chronic illness such as chronic heart, lung or kidney disease as well as those with a suppressed immune system. The current fee paid to general practitioners for the administration of the influenza vaccine to medical card holders in the at risk group is £23.61. The vaccine is provided free of charge to the general practitioner from health board supplies.
In circumstances where a patient is in the at risk group, but not a medical card holder, there is no charge for the actual vaccine, however, the fee for administering the vaccine in such cases is a matter between the general practitioner and the patient.