PRICE cuts currently being offered by vaccine manufacturer, Seqirus, for its Flucelvax Quad influenza vaccine may be extended beyond 30 Jun.
The CSL-owned subsidiary announced it had reduced the wholesale price of its cell-based vaccine in response to surging demand for state-funded flu vaccination services this month.
Seqirus International Regions Executive Medical Director, Dr Jonathan Anderson, told Pharmacy Daily that current discounts would be continued if the free vaccination programs are extended.
"Seqirus welcomes the commitment from state governments to expand reimbursement of flu vaccines to Australians regardless of their age or health status," he said.
"We are committed to protecting the health of Australians and we are partnering with government and immunisation providers to make flu vaccines available to protect Australians this season.
"Flucelvax Quadis is available for order and we're working to ensure this is supplied to pharmacists across Australia.
"We have reduced the wholesale price of Flucelvax Quad to support pharmacists and help ensure they face no out-of-pocket costs under the state government vaccination programs.
"In a season of significant flu circulation, we're pleased that we can provide pharmacists and their patients with cell-based technology that is designed to be an exact match to WHO-selected influenza strains.
"By avoiding egg-adapted mutations, cell-based vaccines may result in greater effectiveness in some seasons relative to egg-based standard vaccine.
"Of the 851 samples referred to the WHO this season, all influenza A(H1N1) and 96.0% of influenza A(H3N2) samples were characterised as antigenically similar to the corresponding vaccine components."
"We will continue to assess the programs offered by state governments and will consider extending the price reduction in line with any extensions to these programs."
Current free flu jab programs in Queensland, South Australia, NSW, Western Australia, Victoria and Tasmania, are scheduled to expire on 30 Jun.
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