Economics of non approval of enhanced flu vaccine does not stack up

• Minister for Health must clarify exact amount sought by drugs companies from the HSE for enhanced flu vaccine.
• HIQA economic cost benefit modelling of adjuvanted IIV flu vaccine does not include the hundreds of millions to be spent by the HSE in purchasing private bed surge capacity.
• Penny pinching by HSE and Department of Health will cost the lives of older persons and will cause serious disruption to scheduled care.

Labour Health spokesperson Marie Sherlock said the overcrowded Irish health system is now facing a major flu crisis.

Speaking today, Deputy Sherlock said:

“We understand that some hospitalisations could have been prevented if the enhanced flu vaccine had been made available. The Minister of Health must account for this appalling penny pincing which will have a serious cost to life, life quality and to scheduled care within hospitals.

“The HIQA 2024 Health Technology Assessment is clear on the effectiveness of the enhanced flu vaccines for people over the age of 65 who are hospitalised relative to those who receive the standard vaccine.

“Across a series of studies, the enhanced flu vaccine outperforms the standard vaccine. In one sample of 512 persons, the enhanced vaccine was assessed to be 59.2% more effective on average.

“The serious rise in the incidence of flu this winter will play havoc with the health service in terms of in-patient bed days, GP vists, medication and on the length of recovery. HIQA tell us that, based on 2010-2022 data, the average number of bed days for a older person with influenza was 9 days.

“What is most frustrating is that the economic analysis  does not appear to factor in the hundreds of millions to be spent by the HSE in purchasing private bed surge capacity this winter.

“The reality is that our level 3 and level 4 hospitals do not have the spare bed capacity to deal with a surge. The average bed capacity is between 90% to 110% across most level 4 hospitals and hospital bed building programmes are moving at a snail’s pace.

“Minister Carroll MacNeill needs to urgently account for the decisions to not approve the enhanced vaccine.”