SAM: The first shipments of influenza vaccine have arrived in Lithuania



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In preparation for the next flu season, the State Health Insurance Fund under the Ministry of Health (VLK) bought a total of just over 236 thousand. 40% of the doses of the quadrivalent influenza vaccine. more than last year. This required 2.2 million from the PSDF. euros.

“As already announced, medical personnel will be vaccinated against influenza this season. Their vaccination is necessary, because when the epidemiological situation deteriorates both due to coronavirus and influenza, they must provide assistance to patients,” says the Minister of Cheers, Aurelijus Veryga.

As influenza vaccines are generally delivered in stages, this, according to the minister, allows medical institutions to rationally schedule vaccination schedules, and patients can choose the timing of the vaccination visit individually. “We recommend that everyone consult their doctor individually about the right time to get vaccinated. Doctors advise older people to get vaccinated later because the immune system is able to maintain antibodies throughout the flu season,” said Minister.

It is very gratifying, first of all, that during such a difficult period not only for Lithuania, but also for all countries in the world, the specialists of the medical insurance funds managed to agree and negotiate the most favorable conditions for the vaccines to reach our medical institutions as soon as possible. This year it happened like never before, in mid-September. Second, although less vaccine was planned earlier, and medical institutions only requested more doses later, they were able to quickly find and purchase the additional requested quantity, ”says Gintaras Kacevičius, Director of VLK.

The PSDF-funded flu vaccine is for those eligible for free vaccination. Thus, currently in Lithuania, people over 65 years of age and patients of any age with chronic diseases (oncological, cardiovascular, respiratory, kidney, etc.), pregnant women, as well as those living in care and nursing institutions and medical personnel, are vaccinated against influenza for free. , who are at special risk of getting the flu when it comes to sick people.

According to SAM, people at risk should not worry that the PSDF-funded flu vaccine is not enough to vaccinate them. If the vaccine purchased by VLK were out of stock at the treatment center where these patients were enrolled, it would be reimbursed additionally. For a single dose of influenza vaccine, the treatment facility will receive € 9.12 from the PSDF. So much this year, VLK is paying the provider for a dose of the flu vaccine. This decision was made to ensure that as many at-risk people as possible who are entitled to free flu vaccination can take advantage of this opportunity.

According to SAM, it is important to know that additional compensation would only be awarded if the full amount of vaccine purchased by VLK ordered by the medical institution, which has a contract with the health insurance fund, expires. This additional reimbursement rule would not apply if the medical institution only temporarily did not have the vaccine due to delivery times or the like. This rule also does not apply to medical institutions that do not have a contract with a medical insurance fund.

The importance of vaccines in difficult times is especially emphasized by the World Health Organization, renowned Lithuanian physicians and epidemiologists. Residents are invited to consult their family physicians about vaccinations.



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