Want to ease the burden of health-care costs, and especially hospitalization? Easy. Just spend whatever it costs to provide all Canadians with free vaccinations — for life. The other day I went to the local pharmacy for my flu and COVID-19 shots, which are free to all B.C. residents. I asked the pharmacist about the vaccination for respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV. I learned that it would cost me about $300. And a vaccination for shingles, recommended for adults age 50 and older and sometimes administered together with the RSV vaccine, costs about $160 per dose. Like most people, I pondered whether it was worth spending that amount to stay out of hospital and maybe stay alive; older adults are at highest risk for RSV complications, and shingles disproportionately affects adults aged 60 and older. But I decided I had better uses for the money. Then I asked myself: Why should any of us old folks pay for any vaccine? ... CLICK HERE for the full story
A discussion on political, economic and social issues in British Columbia, and Canada