Question

Influenza is a common and potentially deadly virus, though vaccines offer some protection from the ailment. In your response, discuss the following issues:

 

Is there an economic rationale to justify government action to encourage citizens to receive an annual influenza vaccination?

 

Explain how each of the following policy options might work to achieve this goal:

 

i. Subsidies for producers

ii. Subsidies for consumers

 

For each policy option, explain the economic mechanics that underlie it.

Answer 1

Influenza is a common and deadly illness that affects people of any age; the malady affects the United States economically, socially, and demographic composition (Rizzo et al., 2018). The impacts of the disease had got to the extreme disparities that risked the economy, introducing the flu shots aimed at curbing the impacts encountered after a long research on the means to counter the disease. The new versions of the flu jabs are manufactured twice a year, and the residents are motivated to seek the vaccination once a year since the influenza virus rapidly changes.

 The impacts of the disease had adversely affected the economy since the earnings of the residents were spent seeking medical attention to cure the illness. Other society members, especially the working class, got sought, which affected the production and expertise availability and consistent production rate. However, efforts to avail the vaccines and advance the research have been expensive to achieve, despite the mechanism's formulation is vital to counter the disease. The provision of subsidies to producers is the essential approach adopted by the US federal government; the vaccine producers help meet the production cost. The cost-sharing led to the availing of the vaccines at an affordable cost to residents seeking treatment and those in need of vaccines (Jamotte, Aurélien, et al., 880). The subsidies provided cost the government huge sums despite this; more merits have favored the common residents and the low-income earners. Providing subsidies to the consumers helps them acquire vaccines at a low cost. The little income earned helps them seek medical attention comfortably, creating more time to work and advance the US economy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Influenza is a common and deadly illness that affects people of any age; the malady affects the United States economically, socially, and demographic composition (Rizzo et al., 2018).