Health insurance funds also urge you not to forget about scheduled vaccinations
While the focus is currently on coronavirus vaccination, people are urged to remember other vaccinations that protect against communicable diseases. Health insurance funds remind you which vaccines for children and adults are paid for by the Compulsory Health Insurance Fund (CHIF).
In Lithuania, those vaccines that are provided for in the National Programme of Immunoprophylaxis 2019-2023 are centrally purchased, according to the specialists of Health insurance funds. Those vaccines are provided free of charge to persons insured with compulsory health insurance (CHI).
In Lithuania, children are vaccinated according to the calendar of preventive vaccinations for children. There is no need to pay for these vaccinations — they are paid for by the CHIF. Children are vaccinated free of charge against 14 infectious diseases: tuberculosis, hepatitis B, pertussis, diphtheria, tetanus, poliomyelitis, pneumococcal infection, measles, mumps, rubella, human papillomavirus, Haemophilus influenzae, meningococcal and rotavirus infections.
“For example, by including compensated vaccinations against rotavirus infection in the calendar of preventive vaccinations, 29 thousand children were vaccinated in 2020 alone. In addition, the number of patients who are hospitalised due to this infection has decreased significantly by one quarter”, - says Agnė Dmitrijevaitė, Adviser to the Centrally Procured Pharmaceuticals Division of the National Health Insurance Fund under the Ministry of Health (NHIF).
According to her, parents or guardians must be informed of the procedure for administering vaccines before each vaccination of the child, and the receipt of information and consent to the vaccination must be signed in the child’s health history. According to A. Dmitrijevaitė, services in medical institutions, including vaccinations, are provided in accordance with all epidemiological recommendations and are safe. Therefore, it is not necessary to postpone the visit to the doctor even during quarantine.
Risk groups include adults insured with CHI, vaccinated against influenza and pneumococcal infection free of charge.
The influenza vaccine is recommended for people aged 65 and over and for people of any age with chronic diseases (oncological, cardiovascular, respiratory, kidney, etc.), pregnant women, people living in care and nursing homes, and medical workers, who are particularly likely to contract influenza from contact with sick people.
By the way, the NHIF has already purchased 257 000 doses of quadrivalent vaccine for the 2021-2022 flu season. That’s almost 5% more than last year. For the CHIF budget, the purchase cost a little more than 2.2 million euros.
Pneumococcal vaccines are given to people on a list of at-risk groups approved by order of the Minister of Health. This, for example, can be individuals with oncological diseases, heart failure, etc.
Also, adults can be vaccinated free of charge against tetanus and diphtheria. According to specialists, revaccination (strengthening of the previous vaccination) against these diseases is recommended once every 5-10 years.
If necessary, adults can be vaccinated against rabies free of charge - in case of a bite from any animal, it is advisable to go to a health facility where a doctor will assess the situation and administer a course of rabies vaccination.
For vaccinations reimbursed by Health insurance funds, patients must go to their family doctor at the health centre where they are registered.
The NHIF invites you:
- Read the most important news on Facebook: https://goo.gl/ML8SqJ
- See recent pictures on Instagram: https://goo.gl/tXvpXr
- Watch comprehensive and funny videos on Youtube: https://goo.gl/BPBep2
- Follow exclusive infographics and more in Flickr: https://goo.gl/Hsyhq4
Your questions are welcome by email [email protected] or phone: local (8 5) 232 2222, international +370 5 232 2222.
Last updated: 04-11-2021
Related news:
From application to patient: the journey of reimbursable medicines in Lithuania
CHI payments have increased since January
New funding arrangements for substitution treatment and care work: equal treatment for all patients
Certificates are a convenient and quick solution for medical emergencies in Europe
21 tonnes of medicine waste in six months: are we looking after the environment or wasting money?