Funding

Funding

The implementation of the vaccination schedule and vaccinations provided in the framework of emergency aid will be financed from the state budget by the Health Insurance Fund (formerly the Ministry of Social Affairs) as of 1 January 2019.

School healthcare services are funded (including vaccinations) by the Health Insurance Fund as well, who concludes contracts with healthcare providers.

Outpatient centres (infectious disease and travel medicine offices) and private practice that provide vaccination injections do so according to their price list and the vaccination is paid for by the patient.

Vaccines provided outside of the immunisation schedule and emergency aid shall be paid for by the patient (or the patient’s employer, when agreed upon). The employer finances vaccination in areas where the duties are linked to a risk of infectious diseases.

Vaccination at your family physician, on the basis of the immunisation schedule, is free of charge, no separate visit fee applies.

Cost-effectiveness

The main benefits of vaccines are reducing suffering and the preservation of human life. In addition, a functioning immunisation scheme has a positive effect on the wider healthcare system, as prevention of severe infectious diseases requires fewer resources than dealing with their consequences. In this way, the healthcare system can focus its attention on treating other diseases.

According to the World Health Organization, every € 1 directed into vaccination will bring a return of € 16 in the form of reduced healthcare expenditure and higher economic productivity (people can lead their normal lives instead of being sick).