Grundy County residents seeking optional immunizations at the Grundy County Health Depart-ment will now pay less for those immunizations.
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Through a new cost-sharing program, persons not eligible for free vaccinations through the Federal Vaccines for Children Program, will pay only 70 percent of the cost for the vaccine. Previously, residents had to pay the entire cost of the vaccine.
“We have many county residents who have health insurance, but their coverage does not include non-required immunizations,” said Grundy County Health Department Administrator Kim Oaks. “Until now, we have only charged our customers what the cost of the vaccine is to us, however, the immunizations requiring multiple doses have still been cost-prohibitive for some.”
Vaccines are less effective if they are not administered according to dosage guidelines and clients who participate in the program will be required to adhere to the recommended series schedule for vaccines with multiple doses. Covered vaccines, the cost to the health department (per dose) and the cost to the client (per dose) under the new program, include: Adacell (Tetanus/Diphtheria/Per-tussis), $34, $10; Gardasil (HPV, three doses), $122, $37; Hepatitis A (two doses), $18, $5; Hepatitis (three doses), $25, $7; Menactra (Meningitis), $82, $25; Prevnar (children’s pneumonia, four doses), $73, $22; Rotateq (Rotavirus, three doses), $65, $19; and Zostavax (shingles-adults over 60), $153, $46.
Mrs. Oaks said the new cost-share program is a good investment.
“We think assuming 70 percent of the cost is a good investment in the health of Grundy County residents.”
Persons with questions about the new cost-share program are encouraged to contact the health department at 359-4196.