Politicians in Västra Götaland are considering free influenza vaccinations. Only every second person in the high-risk groups get vaccinated, writes Göteborgs-Posten (GP).
The proposal to introduce free influenza vaccinations to those in the high-risk groups was discussed by the region's health care committee during the week. Currently people pay 100 kronor for the vaccination.
"Vaccination can be the difference between life and death," said Annika Linde epidemiologist at the Swedish Institute for Communicable Disease Control, to the news agency TT.
Based on a study in Stockholm, the costs of vaccinating the high-risk groups should be offset by lower hospital costs. In the Swedish capital it resulted in a saving of around 75 million kronor.
But as yet no decision has been made by the politicians.
"We must decide soon to have time to introduce the free influenza vaccinations of risk groups in the autumn, before the next flu season," says Jonas Andersson (Liberal Party), Vice Chairman of the Healthcare Committee, to GP.
Last season only every second elderly person was immunized and in other risk groups the rates were even lower, writes GP.
