Flu shot in Czechia: insurers reimburse up to 1,000 crowns

In Czechia, a flu shot costs 600–700 crowns this season, but health insurers reimburse part of that sum, and some cover all of it. People over 65, patients with certain chronic illnesses and healthcare workers are vaccinated free of charge: public health insurance pays for their shot.

Who gets the most

Everyone else has to pay themselves, but insurers are allowed to chip in, and the amounts vary widely. The most generous are the Czech Industrial Health Insurance Company, the Military Health Insurance Company and RBP 213: for adults, they pay up to 1,000 crowns, which is the full price of the vaccine. But there is a catch.

A representative of the Military Health Insurance Company explained that the contribution is worded in general terms and is not tied to a particular disease: it can be spent on any vaccine the client pays for entirely out of pocket. If someone also wants a tick-borne encephalitis or meningitis shot during the year, the money will not stretch to cover everything. The same applies at the other two insurers.

Separate amounts for the flu shot

The remaining insurers have named a separate amount specifically for the flu shot. The most generous is the Sector Health Insurance Company with 500 crowns. Škoda insurance clients can count on 400 crowns, and clients of the Ministry of the Interior insurer and VZP on 300 crowns.

The largest insurer, the General Health Insurance Company VZP, has launched an additional programme this year: for getting a flu shot, it will reward clients with 500 crowns towards physical activity, oral hygiene or rehabilitation treatment. Applications can only be submitted from next year, but the offer also covers those vaccinated since 1 September this year. The reward must be chosen in 2027.

The vaccination season is getting longer

Every year a new flu variant arrives in Europe, so a slightly different vaccine is needed each time. September and October, sometimes November, used to be considered the best time to get vaccinated, as that is when the number of cases usually began to rise. But, as the National Institute of Public Health notes, in recent years the epidemic has been starting closer to the end of the year, so a shot in November still makes sense.

According to the Ministry of Health, 940,000 vaccine doses will arrive in Czechia this year, 15 percent more than last year.

Around Prague, based on reporting by novinky.cz