Discovery Health medical Scheme: analysis on flu related claims

According to the claims data for Discovery Health Medical Scheme, in 2024, Discovery Health Medical Scheme recorded about 191 000 influenza vaccinations, a 12.5% increase from 2023.

Discovery Health Medical Scheme saw a 16.0% increase in flu vaccines administered for the period January to December 2023 in comparison to 2022. Over the past five years, flu vaccine uptake was lowest in 2022 (147,000 vaccinations) and highest in 2020 (207,000 vaccinations).

92,000 of the Discovery Health Medical Scheme’s high-risk members received the flu vaccine during the 2024 flu season. This represents an 8.3% increase in uptake in 2024 compared to 2023.

While this increase has been welcomed, the flu vaccination rate still remains low. We would like to see an even bigger increase in 2025 as we encourage all members, especially those at high risk, to get their flu jabs.

Discovery Health Medical Scheme claims data showed that close to 17,000 members were hospitalized due to influenza in 2024. This includes:
• Over 1,300 infants under 1 year old were admitted to hospital.
• Over 800 elderly members over 85 years were admitted to hospital.

The following groups of people are at high risk of becoming seriously ill from the flu and are encouraged to get the flu vaccine:
• Children up to the age of five. Keep in mind that the flu vaccine is safe for children from age six months onwards.
• People aged 65 or over.
• People living with HIV.
• Women who are pregnant or who’ve had a baby within the past six weeks. Keep in mind that the flu vaccine is safe to have while breastfeeding.
• People living in care facilities (old-age homes, or chronic care and rehabilitation institutions).
• People who have a chronic health condition (like chronic lung diseases such as asthma, heart or kidney disease, diabetes and others).
• People who have a weakened immune system for whatever cause.

There are two types of flu vaccines - a quadrivalent influenza vaccine (QIV) and a trivalent vaccine (TIV). The trivalent vaccine protects against three strains of the influenza virus, while the quadrivalent vaccine protects against four strains. The three strains of influenza remain the most common ones we should be protecting ourselves against. Medical professionals recommend either the QIV or TIV vaccine as both vaccines offer good protection against the flu, so it does not matter which one you get.

For high-risk members, Discovery Health Medical Scheme will cover the cost of the actual vaccine through risk benefits.