9 non-reimbursement vaccines could save ₩40 billion

If reimbursed by the national vaccination program

Jung Choun-sook, a member of Democratic Party of Korea, said that socioeconomic losses should be reduced by expanding adult vaccinations

It was argued that expanding the National Immunization Program (NIP) and including non-reimmbursement vaccines in the scope of health insurance coverage would be effective in reducing socioeconomic losses and strengthening health insurance finances.

 

It is pointed out that it is possible to reduce the socio-economic cost of ₩39.9 billion by ₩3.65 billion for adult vaccination against nine diseases such as pneumonia and mumps.

 

On the 20th, Jung Choun-sook, a member of Democratic Party of Korea, announced this through the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency and the HIRA submission data.

 

According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) submitted by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, the cost of vaccines compared to hospitalization costs was only 0.02% to 3.78%.

 

Specifically, the cost of hospitalization for tetanus was $102,524, while the cost of the vaccine (based on children) was only $16.34 to $61.65.

 

Hospitalization costs for pneumococcal disease ranged from $3,798 to $25,848.

 

Looking at the treatment status of these nine diseases over the last three years, the number of pneumococcal disease patients from 2018 to June 2020 was 10,588, and the total amount of medical care benefit expenses was about ₩18.945 billion.

 

The number of patients for mumps was 33,464, the cost of medical care benefits was about ₩2,964 million, the number of patients for chickenpox was 194,700, and the cost of medical care benefits was about ₩14,87 billion.

 

On the other hand, even though the cost of the vaccine is not covered, the cost of the vaccine will be ₩61,501/person at a hospital for pneumococcal disease, and if all 10,588 patients are vaccinated, the cost of the vaccine will be ₩651 million.

 

For mumps, the vaccine cost is ₩11,390/person, and if all 33,464 patients are vaccinated, the vaccine cost will be ₩381 million.

 

Chickenpox amounts to ₩13,020, and ₩2,535 billion, if 194,700 people are vaccinated.

 

It is much more economical if the disease is prevented by vaccination.

 

She believes that vaccination is the most effective public health intervention tool in terms of cost/benefit, and if NIP is expanded through national health insurance reimbursement, and that it will ultimately help finance health insurance by reducing socioeconomic losses and reducing medical costs.

 

As of this year, the nationally supported NIP include 'Children's NIP' for children under 12 years of age (17 types of vaccines eligible for free vaccination such as tuberculosis, hepatitis B, diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, etc.), 'Healthy Women's First Step Clinic Project' targeting female adolescents aged 12 years, 'Influenza NIP' targeting seniors 65 years of age or older, 6 months to 12 years old, and pregnant women, and 'Elderly pneumococcal disease NIP' targeting seniors 65 years of age or older.

 

정춘숙 의원은 "예방접종은 비용 대비 편익 측면에서 가장 효과적인 공중 보건 중재 수단"이라며 "국민건강보험 급여화를 통해 예방접종사업을 확대하면, 사회경제적 손실을 줄이고 의료비용 절감을 통해 궁극적으로 건강보험 재정에 큰 도움을 줄 수 있다"고 강조했다.

 

한편 예방접종 비용을 국가가 지원하는 국가예방접종 사업은 올해를 기준으로 만 12세 이하 어린이를 대상으로 한 '어린이 국가예방접종 지원사업'(결핵, B형간염, 디프테리아, 파상풍, 백일해 등 무료접종 대상 백신 17종), 만 12세 여성 청소년을 대상으로 한 '건강여성 첫걸음 클리닉사업', 만 65세 이상 어르신, 생후 6개월~12세 어린이, 임신부를 대상으로 한 '인플루엔자 국가예방접종 지원 사업', 만 65세 이상 어르신을 대상으로 한 '어르신 폐렴구균 예방접종사업' 등이 있다.