Hepatitis A

[TopKat]

I've been advised to have a Hepatitis A vaccine before going on holiday to Puerto Rico but my GP surgery will charge �80 for this!! Three years ago, I had various vaccinations before a foreign holiday and was not charged at all (same GP). How can they justify this? Surely under the NHS this should be free? If I get sick the NHS will have to treat me, so it doesn't make sense. Besides, they say the charge will apply to my children also (12 & 15) and I don't think that's right. What do other people think? Is this right? Or do you think, like me, that it goes against the whole principle of the NHS?

[cruella]

Hi TopKat,
I agree with you in principle about having to pay for a vaccine but Doctors do charge for this vaccine now.
Depending also on the job you do, sometimes your Employer will ask you to have this vaccine. This is also chargeable and the Employer will refund the Employee eventually.
Afraid this is the case now, whether we like it or not.
Have a nice holiday anyway.

[mycats]

I think its perfectly acceptable to expect people to pay for preventative vaccinations if they choose to go abroad. The NHS is overstreched enough as it is with all the ridiculous things that are free.

[TopKat]

While I agree that lots of silly things are free under the NHS and it is strapped for cash, I don't think vaccinations are "silly". Certainly, some of the exotic jabs you need for going abroad aren't necessary for life in the UK, but I was told that if I had needed a tetanus booster (which is recommended for Puerto Rico) it would have cost me �30. How can that be right? If I injured myself in the garden in the UK, I'd be given a tetanus booster free of charge. Also, how can charging for vaccinations make sense when if someone gets sick abroad, the NHS will probably end up treating them? Do other people agree that this is a dangerous, illogical way of saving money?

[oldgrape]

i agree with you, if it was me id scratch myself and tell the dr it was a rusty nail get that 1 free then

[MrXLA]

Look TopKat here are the facts:
1) You've been advised to have a Hep A vaccine (for your well-being on your holiday that you are going on of your own free will)
2) The charge is �80
Speculation:
This cost is probablty not the true cost of providing the vaccine, you are probably paying a subsidy towards its true cost which will be greater.

Fact:
3) The NHS as a whole cannot afford to run, it is in debt, the population is growing, therefore the treatment demand is higher and sadly the number of taxpayers has not risen proportionally.
4) As a result people who need life saving treatment cannot get it at all or under ideal circumstances and as a result they endure long term suffering or die.
In an ideal world, there would be limitless funds, limitless NHS staff and limitless hospital beds, we do not live in an ideal world.

As a result I'm sorry to say that it appears to have been decided that vaccines for elective travel seem to have slipped somewhat down the priorty list.


So you have a few options
1) pay the �80
2) don't pay, don't get the vaccine and risk getting very ill in a country not fortunate enough to have an NHS and suffer the consequences
3) don't go

[MrXLA]

Thank you oldgrape by the way, its partly due to people of your mentality that the NHS is in great difficulty.
There are of course many fingers to point without easy solutions.
But cheers oldgrape you carry on abusing the system while you can, because ultimately due to people like you we won't have an NHS anymore.