Manx Care to reinstate shingles vaccination program

Manx Care plans to resume its shingles vaccination program in January, after the service was suspended in April of the previous year. This suspension occurred after the joint committee on vaccination and immunisation recommended adopting a new product and modifying both the eligibility criteria and the dosage. According to Health and Social Care Minister Claire Christian, the suspension was due to the new product’s “significantly higher cost.” However, she stated that the department has since directed the program to restart, with the necessary additional funding sourced from its existing allocated budget. Christian informed the House of Keys that the program is expected to be operational again by the close of January, and preparations are underway for communications to provide patients with more information. The Public Health Directorate had anticipated and planned for a 40% uptake rate for the service. Eligibility for the vaccine includes individuals over 65 years old and those over 50 with compromised immune systems. Jason Moorhouse MHK raised a question regarding the number of individuals who missed their vaccinations due to the suspension, while Lawrie Hooper, a former health minister, inquired about the program’s long-term funding strategy. Christian stated that public health estimated approximately 3,000 people were impacted by the pause, though she pointed out that not all of them would have opted for the vaccination. She added that the extra funding for the new vaccination product is allocated annually, and the department is currently examining future “scoping costs.”