While he was off to such a good start, he also found out about vaccination against the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Less famous than the other two, but also very contagious, it is a frequent cause of hospitalization and death among the elderly…
And that’s where Denis Carrier was outraged.
While COVID and influenza vaccines are available free of charge in Quebec, this is not the case for the RSV vaccine. He realized that this vaccine costs around $300 for elderly people who do not live in a CHSLD or a private residence for the elderly (RPA).
In other words, Mr. Carrier is penalized by the State because he still lives at home. He would have to pay $300 to be vaccinated against RSV, whereas if he lived in a luxurious private seniors’ residence, he would be entitled to free vaccination.
Find the error!
“It’s unfair, especially since in RPA, we are not talking about a clientele with modest incomes,” protests Mr. Carrier, who served in the past as a commissioner in the office of the ombudsman of the City of Gatineau. . He still can’t believe it: “To think that I don’t qualify for free vaccination, even with a pacemaker [stimulateur cardiaque] and a defibrillator!”
Mr. Carrier wrote to the Ministry of Health for explanations. It was confirmed to him that free RSV vaccination was offered for those aged 60 and over in CHSLDs and intermediate residences, as well as for those aged 75 and over in private residences for the elderly.
So he’s not stupid.
However, the Quebec immunization committee also recommended free vaccination of people aged 75 and over with chronic illness living in the community — like Mr. Carrier. It is a recommendation written in black and white in a report available online.
Except that this policy was not adopted by the Ministry of Health. I checked with two pharmacies in Gatineau: the vaccine is chargeable for those aged 75 and over, regardless of whether you have a chronic illness or not.
By reading the very technical report from the Quebec immunization committee, we understand that free vaccination against RSV is not offered to everyone, in particular because of the high cost of the 2 vaccines available on the market. The State had to make choices based on a cost-benefit ratio, which is completely correct and understandable.
On the other hand, Denis Carrier is right: the resulting immunization policy is unfair and discriminatory.
I completely understand that we offer free RSV vaccination in CHSLDs and intermediate residences which accommodate highly vulnerable clients. This goes without saying in order to avoid costly hospitalizations for the health network.
Ultimately, I would have understood that we offer free vaccination against RSV in the care units of private residences for the elderly, where we welcome the sickest and most vulnerable.
But that the vaccine be offered free of charge to ALL residents aged 75 and over in RPAs, including healthy, active, independent people? This is where I stall. If we offer free access to them, we must also offer it to those aged 75 and over who live in the community, especially those who have a chronic illness.
It’s a question of fairness.
Current immunization policy creates second-class citizens. I completely share Denis Carrier’s indignation.
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