Health care clinic in Campsie shamed after charging $250 for Covid vaccine

A Sydney health care clinic has been caught out charging an eye-watering fee for residents in a Covid-ravaged area to get the jab.

A health care clinic in Sydney’s southwest is charging hundreds of dollars for residents to get their hands on a Pfizer vaccine.

Blessed Health Care clinic has been caught out, asking patients to pay up to $250 for a “vaccination consultation” on their first visit, while the second dose could set them back up to $120.

A notice posted to the window of the clinics, which operate out of two sites in Campsie, said the vaccine itself was free but the consultation fee would leave people out of pocket.

The clinic is charging patients despite the federal government declaring there is no cost associated with getting the vaccine.

Cumberland councillor Kun Huang posted a message on Facebook, saying the desperation to get vaccinated, and apprehension around the AstraZeneca vaccine, has created a “black market for the Pfizer” vaccine.

The vaccination is supposed to be free with no admin or booking costs associated with it. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Damian Shaw

A noticed posted outside the clinic details the costs. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Damian Shaw

“This kind of behaviour is not unique, and I’m sure there are other places also have a similar problem,” he wrote.

“We need the federal and state governments to step up their effort in securing more Pfizer vaccine for the community and also educate in community languages around the degree of risk for AstraZeneca vaccine.”

Mr Huang is urging the government to offer compensation to those who have fallen victim to “unethical behaviour”.

“We are all in this together, no one should be poorer for wanting to be safe,” Mr Huang said.

Blessed Health Care Clinic has been contacted for comment.

In a statement, the Department of Health said the Covid-19 vaccine was free for all people living in Australia and that GPs could not charge out-of-pocket costs for any service provided relating to a suitability assessment or the immunisation.

The Campsie clinic charging for the Pfizer vaccine. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Damian Shaw

“If an individual does not have a Medicare card, or is not eligible for Medicare, they can be directed to their closest Commonwealth Vaccination Clinic or State or Territory Vaccination Site,” the department said.

“Alternatively, vaccine providers can administer the vaccine but must be free of charge.”

The department said it took seriously allegations of Medicare noncompliance by healthcare providers.

People have blown up on social medial labelling the charges as a “disgrace” and declaring “everyone should receive a refund”.

Campsie is in the Canterbury-Bankstown local government area, one of the worst hit by Sydney’s latest Covid crisis.

There are more than 450 infections in that local government area alone as the city continues to grapple with the latest outbreak.

NSW recorded its worst day during the entire pandemic on Thursday with 239 new infections.

The spike in cases has forced the Berejiklian government to extend the lockdown for another four weeks while enforcing a raft of new restrictions, including mandatory masks outdoors for eight local government areas.