H1N1 vaccinations

[tom]

To go for a jab or not to go for a jab ?

Accordine to the clinical director of the Communicable Disease Centre, it was stated, " unless a patient knows for sure that he has had the H1N1 flu and is therefore IMMUNE, he should have the vaccine to be safe.

So, from expert advice, it is still better to go for the jab inspite of the many side-effects.

Come to the actual cost.

Accordine to the GSK spokesman, he said, " contractual obligations prevented it from disclosing how much it was selling the vaccine to Singapore.

  The receiving end is paying between $29 to $30 per jab. Are the main importer, the polyclinics, the GPS making money out of this pandemic ? 

[tom]

18 Polyclinics islandwide are charging $29 for a shot of the H1N1 vaccine.

Healthway Medical Clinic group with a total of 40 GP clinics islandwide are charging $27.80 per jab.

So what is the actual cost ?

Singapore bought the vaccine direct from the manufacturer at $16 per dose. The vaccine is than distributed to polyclinics, GPS and private medical institutions at $17 per dose. The $1 covers storage, delivery and other overheads.

  So buying at $17 and selling at $29  The profit margin is $12 per person X 1 million doses. Total gross profit = $12 Million for GPS, Polyclinics and medical institutions.  Not a bad deal ya ?

[tom]

Health Minister expects foreigners to come to Singapore for H1N1 vaccine 
 
Health Minister expects some foreigners to come to Singapore for the H1N1 vaccine. 

Indonesians and Malaysians who may not have enough supplies or not yet receives supplies in their own country may come to Singapore for the jab.

So far, Singapore has received 250,000 doses of the H1N1 vaccine, and by year end the remaining 750,000 doses.

  Why are we catering for them    Is it because Singaporeans are not interested to go for the jab ?

[tom]

At polyclinics and established medical chains, jabs for the Influenza A virus (H1N1) are in full swing. 

The 250,000 doses that have reached Singapore  are in packs of 10, with a shelf life of 24 hours once opened. Doctors in smaller clinics are waiting for single packaging.

So far, a week after H1N1 vaccinations began, demand has marginally outstripped supply and the 250,000 doses had been used. By this weekend,  an additional 100,000 doses in single packs will arrive.

Accordine to ‘ WHO ‘ and ‘ MOH ‘ so far there are no serious side-effects detected.