I just got my flu shot, and started wondering if this is usual in Europe.
In Finland shots are free for kids until about 6 years, I think. Also parents of small kids get them free. Elderly with not so great health, too. Most employers also offer the option of getting a free shot in here. And you can get one for about 50 €, if you want one but are not entitled to get it free.
How about your country? Do people get the shots a lot, or is it rare?
32 comments
Yearly flu shot is free for everyone in Germany.
Travel-related vaccines are usually also free if the shots are generally recommended.
It’s free for those over 65 and those in certain risk groups (diabetes, heart disease etc.).
I’ve got a free one through work in the UK. The nurse comes to the office to administer. I think for the employer they are very good value for money.
It’s free for eligible individuals and groups in Ireland, including those aged 60 and over, children aged 2–17, pregnant people, healthcare workers, and those with certain at-risk medical conditions or who are in contact with at-risk individuals.
If you’re not eligible our GP charges €20.
In Ireland it’s €35 to get one privately in a pharmacy, and free for certain categories (pregnant, elderly, immunocompromised etc). My work offers one for free
It’s free for specific groups – children, elderly, those at clinical risk, those who work in healthcare, and more. You can also get it at pharmacies for around £15, and many employers will allow you to expense it.
It’s not free, if you want a shot you have to pay for it either by the GP, pharmacy or private health care clinic.
It’s free in Sweden for me as I’m in a risk group due a health condition, but otherwise I think it’s elderly and other risk factors.
I’m not sure, but there was a announcement at the pharmacist, without any age or price mentioned. But if those aren’t free, employers are starting to hand out free vaccinations as well.
It is free in Denmark for elderly over 65 or if you are in a high risk group
No, it’s not just that it costs money, but also that it involves multiple steps: ask the doctor to write a prescription, have the pharmacy fill that prescription (and many times they then have to order so you can’t pick it up right away) and get an appointment with the physician’s assistent to get it put in. You pay for those steps separately, so it’s more than 50. Ridiculously complex and wasteful. So no, not many people get those.
In Finland risk groups get them for free too. For influenza, that can be asthmatics, and I qualify as an epileptic.
It’s free for everyone in Austria, easy to access too
In Ireland it’s free for children under 17, for people over a certain age (might be 60 or 65), and for people classed as medically vulnerable (certain chronic conditions). Anybody else can get one at a pharmacy, they’re around €30
The NHS offers them free to specific groups and those that live with them so covers a lot of people- you can get it from pharmacies for free and they let your doctor know. Otherwise you can pay at the pharmacy, it’s under €20 so well worth it to get some extra protection imo
Here in Bulgaria it’s free only for the elderly. But it’s cheap to grab it at a pharmacy, around 12 euro.
Have to be 60+ or a medical risk before you can get one. But then they are free
It may depend on the region, as Italian healthcare is partially regionalised.
In Lombardy, this year, it’s [free for everyone](https://www.wikivaccini.regione.lombardia.it/wps/portal/site/wikivaccini/DettaglioRedazionale/vaccinazioni-disponibili/campagna-vaccinale-antinfluenzale), though I think it’s the fist time (except maybe during Covid).
However, priority is given to:
– Medically fragile people
– Minors
– People over 60
– Healthcare personnel
– Teachers and professors
– People dealing with animals (vets, shepards, etc.)
– Law enforcement personnel
I’m quite sure these categories always had it for free in recent years (maybe not all minors), while other people used to pay.
In addition to these categories, it was free for blood donors: I’ve always got it for free.
In Denmark it is free if you are 65+, or at risk. If you are not in that category – you can get it at the pharmacy for roughly 27€ a lot of people also get it from their jobs, for free.
I got covid and flu vaccines yesterday for no charge. I think it’s free because I have asthma. Dublin, Ireland.
Edit for typo
In the UK, it’s free for anyone with a weakened immune system, or over the age of 70, I think. I had flu and COVID
Only free for specific vulnerable groups and the elderly. I know no one outside of those groups who cares or is willing to pay to get one. It’s just not something people worry about. I personally don’t care as well, I trust the health experts who say I don’t need one.
Free flu inoculation for school age kids in the UK (usually a nasal spray but an injectable vaccine is also available). For adults it’s only free for over 60s and ‘vulnerable’ groups e.g. immunocompromised, those with diabetes etc.
They’re free, and during September and October there are multiple vaccine stations “on-the-go” near the metro stations and in malls so that it would be easier and faster to get one (at least, in St.Petersburg that is).
Right now, these stations offer flu, covid, and pneumococcal vaccines. I just got two of them last week.
Some employers offer them, too, but it’s rare.
In Belgium it’s free for “higher risk” patients. For other people it’s +- 20 euros if I remember correctly.
Flu and Covid are both free in Italy, as are all the other types of vaccines available.
Flu and Corona and anything recommended by the German health institution is free. You just need to find a doctor to give it to you.
Considering how much money ill people lose the economy and affect the education system I find it mad to charge for these things.
In Spain may employers have their employees vaccinated yearly and pay for it. Its seen as normal.
Over here in the Netherlands it is free for people older as 60 or for certain people with a weak health.
My employer organizes and pays for it. Otherwise it’s quite costly and somewhat complicated.
It’s Free for children, I don’t know if it applies for all minors until 18 years.
Also Free for people over 65 y.o. and those with Chronic diseases.
I think (but I’m not certain) as a employee you have 50% off.
I bought mine. It was around 80 lei ~ 16€.
They are about £10/€8 in the UK. Can get them normally by just walking into a supermarket with a chemist or on the high street without an appointment.
They’re free for most people with any long term existing health conditions.