Source of this article: Times Weekly Author: Du Sumin
How difficult is it to get the HPV vaccine ? You may be able to avoid scalpers and fish-killing dishes, but you still can’t escape the bundled packages.
When Zhang Qiao (pseudonym) purchased the nine-valent vaccine this year, he encountered the situation that the physical examination package was bundled, and he spent more than 1,000 yuan for this. On July 1, Zhang Qiao told a Times Weekly reporter that the nine-price vaccine she bought at a private community clinic in the north cost 1,330 yuan for a single shot, and the bundled physical examination package cost 800-1,000 yuan. "My friend bought it last year and it was in the same situation," she said.
Times Weekly reporter learned that some consumers were forced to buy family doctor contract service packages, hepatitis E vaccine packages, etc. when purchasing HPV vaccines. HPV (Human Papiloma Virus) vaccine, the full name of human papilloma virus vaccine, is one of the important prevention methods to effectively reduce the risk of cervical cancer.
As of now, there are 5 HPV vaccines approved for marketing in the world, including the bivalent vaccine of British GlaxoSmithKline (GSK. NYSE), the quadrivalent vaccine and the nine-valent vaccine of Merck & Co. (MRK.NYSE) of the United States. As well as bivalent vaccines independently developed by Wantai Biological (603392.SH) and Watson Bio (300142.SZ).
Times Weekly reporter found that bundled sales of HPV vaccines often appeared in the past, mainly in the purchase of quadrivalent vaccines and nine-valent vaccines. Bundled sales also reflect the shortage of HPV vaccine supply to a certain extent.
HPV vaccine is sold in a fancy way.
Zhang Qiao told reporters that the physical examination package includes breast B-ultrasound, uterine B-ultrasound, TCT examination and HPV testing. After the examination, the doctor suggested purchasing lotion, , and anti-inflammatory gel. The total price was less than 300 yuan. "I was a little worried that the needle would not be arranged if I didn't buy it, so I bought it anyway. My friend didn't buy it, but it didn't affect the injection of and ." Zhang Qiao said.
Before purchasing the hospital’s nine-price vaccine package, Zhang Qiaoji also consulted with the hospital, vaccine appointment platforms and other clinics. "But the vaccine is in short supply, and every shot has to be grabbed. I'm worried that I won't be able to get three shots a year." Zhang Qiao noticed that in some private hospitals that offer three shots, the vaccine plus physical examination costs almost 6,000 yuan, and some hospitals also There is a clearly marked "service fee" of about 2,000 yuan. "Calculated in this way, the one I found is relatively 'cost-effective'. It includes three injections, and the full set costs about 5,000," she said.
"Bundling and premium prices are naturally unhealthy trends, but after all, supply exceeds demand now, and private hospitals always have to make a profit, so I can accept it if it is too much," Zhang Qiao said, "One day earlier If you get vaccinated, you will be guaranteed one day earlier.”
In addition to the problems encountered by Zhang Qiao, the HPV vaccine is also forced to be bundled with family doctor contract service packages, hepatitis E vaccines, photorejuvenation packages, etc.
6 29, according to China Business News , some citizens were required by Community Hospital to participate in the gynecological physical examination of the hospital while making an appointment to receive the quadrivalent HPV vaccine. "If you don't participate, the hospital will not bill you for vaccination. I have also consulted a number of community hospitals and got similar responses. You must either participate in a gynecological physical examination or a full physical examination." The citizen said.
In addition, there are screenshots posted by netizens, saying that when they purchased the nine-valent vaccine (three shots) on the vaccine appointment platform, they were asked to buy another three shots of hepatitis E vaccine, with a total price of 6,408 yuan. The netizen said, "I don't really want to take the hepatitis E vaccine, but I can't get the nine-price vaccine soon after I pass my age, so I'm confused."
Lawyer Lan Tianbin, a partner at Jiangsu Fade Dongheng Law Firm, said in an interview with a reporter from Times Weekly, According to medical experts, no special examination is required before receiving the HPV vaccine, but if it is clear that HPV is infected with , the infection must be treated and cleared before vaccination. “That is to say, if you are required to participate in a gynecological examination or a full physical examination when making an appointment or purchasing the HPV vaccine, or purchase a family doctor contract service package, etc., it is suspected of bundled sales, which is the tying of goods without legitimate reasons, or during the transaction Attaching other unreasonable transaction conditions.
Lawyer Lan Tianbin said that when this happens, consumers can complain to the National Health Commission or the Market Supervision Administration and request that the behavior be stopped and rectification be made. "Consumers have the right to know and make their own choices, and relevant hospitals can provide Consumers are not required to purchase packages unless it is medically necessary. "He said.
With the rise of domestic production, when will the supply shortage be eased?
In fact, in the first quarter of 2022, the number of batches of HPV quadrivalent vaccines and 9-valent vaccines has increased significantly. Merck's quadrivalent and 9-valent HPV vaccines domestic Exclusive agent Zhifei Biotechnology (300122.SZ) disclosed that in the first quarter of 2022, 2.11 million doses of quadrivalent HPV vaccine were issued, an increase of nearly 70%; 4.83 million doses of nine-valent HPV vaccine were issued, an increase of nearly 280%.
Merck. is the only supplier of quadrivalent and nine-valent vaccines in the world. Women of appropriate age are highly willing to be vaccinated. The shortage of HPV vaccine supply cannot be completely solved in a short time. At present, domestically produced bivalent vaccines have been approved for sale in China, namely Wantai. Xinconin’s and from Watson Biotech are priced at 329 yuan per shot, and
’s single shot is priced at 356 yuan. 10 million doses. According to data from the China Commercial Industry Research Institute, in 2021, the domestically produced Wantai Bivalent HPV vaccine accounted for 65% of the Chinese HPV vaccine market, while the vaccine produced by GlaxoSmithKline accounted for only 5%.
According to Wantai Bio’s public disclosure, the actual age distribution of recipients of its bivalent HPV vaccine is mainly women over 30 years old, and the self-paid market share is relatively large. The planned output of Wo Zehui, which was approved at the end of March this year, will reach nearly 10 million doses in 2022. , and have implemented bidding standards in Guangdong, Guangxi, Shandong, Yunnan, Anhui, Heilongjiang, Shanxi, Jiangxi and other places.
Although the domestic bivalent vaccines that have been launched can partially alleviate the tight supply situation, the high-priced vaccines developed independently are still on the market. It is in the clinical stage and cannot fully meet the market demand.
It is reported that there are currently 17 HPV vaccines in clinical trials in China, and there are currently 9 domestic HPV vaccines in the third phase of clinical trials, including 5 with nine prices. Eleven-valent, 14-valent, and 15-valent HPV vaccines are also under development. Based on the calculation that the third phase of clinical trials will take 3-4 years and the approval and release for marketing will take 1-2 years, there is a high probability that the domestic nine-valent vaccine will be approved for marketing. After 2025.
Deng Zhidong, general manager of Hainan Boao Medical Technology Co., Ltd., said in an interview with a reporter from Times Weekly that Chinese companies have begun to accelerate the development and production of HPV vaccines, and the situation of difficulty in obtaining a single shot is expected to be alleviated in the short term. It is still difficult to solve the urgent problem. The vaccine production process is complex and the production cycle is long. The international HPV vaccine production cycle generally takes four years, and companies need to make four- to five-year plans to meet the production conditions for high-priced HPV vaccines. ” he said.
