Chapter 474: Vaccine Promotion, Soul Bargaining for Centralized Procurement?
The pricing of cowpox vaccination... wasn’t determined by Garrett.
He couldn’t set it. In fact, the review committee once asked Garrett about the cost of cowpox vaccines, and the answer he gave was complicated:
"The cost is divided into fixed and variable costs," Garrett counted on his fingers:
"Fixed costs mainly include the construction costs of the research institute, daily maintenance expenses, and expenditures for researching cowpox. This, I’m not exactly sure how much it is... anyway, check the accounts, and then allocate it to each vaccine…"
"What about variable costs?" An alchemist from the transformation school perked up his ears. Ah, this statement seems something our alchemy workshop could use too! Kid, say a bit more, if you make a good case, the alchemy workshop will give you a discount!
"Variable costs... are the production and vaccination costs of the vaccine..." Garrett furrowed his brows, deep in thought:
"A dairy cow is about 10 gold coins, but there’s no need to buy, renting is also possible, and I don’t know the rental, how many vaccines a cowpox blister can produce, you have to ask them;"
More than one committee member facepalmed. You don’t know this, you don’t know that, what are we doing with you? It would be more convenient to deal with an accountant!
"Then, the production and sterilization of the syringes also cost money, if it’s mass-produced, the price can be asked from the alchemy workshop;"
The transformation school mage, instantly the target of everyone’s glares. He shrugged: Does it make any sense to ask me now? I also need to take a sample, go back and let them evaluate it first!
"The training and labor costs of the vaccination personnel... I’m not clear about this, but, it’s not necessary to use spell-casters, ordinary people can do it too, which is cheaper..."
"So, what about the research institute’s share?" Urged by the collective gaze of the audience, Old Sam, as a mage from the Thunder Horn, spoke on behalf of the review committee:
"How much do you want?"
"Uh..."
Garrett scratched his head again. The profit from drugs can be very high or very low: high enough to make hundreds to thousands of times profit, things like heart stents, artificial joints, vaccines not to mention, at times, robbing a country isn’t a big deal;
Low enough to just cover costs, or even give it away for free. Anyway, the herbs are picked from the mountains, not bought with money, giving away some when we have enough to live on is no big deal.
As long as his hospital can operate normally, it seems, he doesn’t need to set the share too high? Anyway, if the money isn’t enough, just start a project and ask the council for it…
But it also can’t be set too low... it’s easy for him to ask the council for money, but future vaccine researchers might not have it so easy. By being too idealistic here, he might block the way forward for others.
Garrett was caught between two values, struggling back and forth, unable to give a definite answer.
Sigh, I’m just a clinical doctor, why do I have to take on the jobs of a pharmaceutical CFO, the Health Commission, and the Pricing Bureau!
Seeing Garrett’s troubled face, the members of the review committee knew it was useless to ask him, waved their hands, and let him go. In the mage tower, the medical research institute, isn’t there a sensible person to talk about the price?
If not, ask the Lord of Thunder, can someone stand up for little Garrett? The price is pressed too low, it seems like we are bullying the kid...
Then, anyway, when Garrett pulled his head out of the rabies vaccine research, what he saw was the street vendors shouting "Not 750, just ten gold coins."
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10 gold coins are still too expensive for the poor, and even for the middle class, they need to save up carefully for a long time. But for merchants, farmers, and workshop owners, this money, they can afford without much pain.
It’s just a dairy cow, or two pounds of salt, or a set of good woolen clothes for meeting guests!
To not have to hide every time smallpox epidemics break out, to not be terrified every time there’s an outbreak for the sake of young children—
It’s just ten gold coins!
Garrett patted Appa, letting it follow the crowd to see the vaccination site. Looking around, he nodded silently; it was true, these ten gold coins were well spent:
The vaccination site was set up next to the White Tower, a row of large tents was erected, standing at the entrance, one could see the White Tower. Mages in flowing robes entered and exited, lining
up near them made one feel closer to magic;
Waiting area, vaccination area, observation area, each zone clearly distinguished, in the vaccination area, mage apprentices in uniform white coats vaccinated visitors, every move followed strict rules;
All syringes used once, immediately placed into a special sharps box nearby, not to be used for a second person, waiting for centralized high-temperature sterilization;
Ladies had changing rooms, children had a play area, there was even an apprentice to play with them (of course, the way of playing was mainly practicing mage tricks, if really unable to hold on, a first-level mage would come over and cast 【Charm Person】…)
This was quite nice. Hmm, it already felt like the private hospitals from my previous life, especially the high-end private ones.
Another vaccination point was inside the White Tower. For their own people, the council offered an unprecedented discount: any mage, even mage apprentices, could get vaccinated for just one contribution point.
One vaccination, lifetime immunity.
What?
You want to vaccinate your parents, spouse, children?
That… Mr. Mage, you should know, this low price, is a subsidy from the council, only for mages… Let me see… the discount for relatives and friends is two contribution points per person, it can’t be lower!
Considering the black market exchange rate of contribution points and gold coins at 1:4, this price, about amounted to an 80% discount.
Mages went happily and returned joyfully, each feeling they had received a special deal. Some lower-level, quick-thinking mages even managed to pull people in, making a small profit.
“What about those who can’t afford ten gold coins?”
Garrett sat down in the conference room in the White Tower, asking the municipal hall officials across him. Expecting mages to do administrative work is impossible, at least, the work for the general public can’t be expected from mages.
This cowpox vaccination, the review committee issued instructions, all the legwork, done by people from the municipal hall…
“According to the instructions of the review committee, the smallpox vaccine should be administered as widely as possible.” Across Garrett, a middle-aged official flipped through the documents in his hands, respectfully answering:
“Starting next month, we will fully roll out the second round of vaccinations. This round targets the middle-income class, the scheduled vaccination fee is 1 gold coin per person—”
“Wait wait wait!”
Garrett waved his hand to interrupt him:
“10 gold coins becoming 1 gold coin, won’t the people who were originally vaccinated make a fuss?”
What a joke, a direct 90% discount! Uh, although it’s not that they can’t afford this discount… According to calculations by personnel dispatched by the review committee, just the cost of vaccine manufacture, excluding labor, can be pressed to below 1 copper coin per dose. But, who sells things like this?
Don’t talk about a 90% discount, try not returning to the original price after the Double Eleven discount period! Try giving an 80% discount! Complaints wouldn’t flood you! If you don’t promise “no price reduction within 1 month”/ “refund the difference within 15 days”, just forget about it!
A 90% discount, aren’t you afraid those who paid ten gold coins will come over and smash the vaccination site?
You think this is selling shield machines at a fracture price to the market!—Even if it’s shield machines, it’s not the same seller!
“Mage Nordmark, please rest assured, we have already made adequate preparations.” The middle-aged official across smiled confidently. He adjusted the chain of his pocket watch, his voice calm and measured:
“Firstly, the earliest batch of vaccinations was carried out collectively. Among the students at the magic academy, among students at other schools, among the military and city guards, the fees were collected collectively.”
Those who can afford school are middle-class families and above... Garrett quickly thought:
“So, under the guise of collective procurement to reduce prices?”
“Not only that.” The middle-aged official continued smiling:
“We can also promote externally that the council subsidized the students and the military out of educational and safety needs.”
emmmm… But the gap is still quite big… Garrett struggled, still feeling that those who paid ten gold coins previously would be unwilling…
“And, in the method of vaccination, we will also make some adjustments.” The middle-aged official’s smile remained, trying to sound sincere and solemn, not daring to show any impatience:
This man in front, is said to be the inventor of the smallpox vaccine. Although he doesn’t manage the specific vaccination details, the power needed to have the bigshots issue an edict from top to bottom to spread this thing comprehensively, isn’t just a little or two!
If he casually says “can’t do this”, everyone’s efforts of a month or two would be ruined!
“What? Adjust?” Garrett almost jumped up. This thing
can’t be adjusted randomly! It’ll cause cross-infection! “How are you adjusting?”
“The one gold coin per person vaccination scheme, no syringes, using a steel needle to dip the vaccine, directly piercing the patient’s skin. Of course, the steel needle will definitely not be reused, one per person, sterilized at high temperature after use.”
Garrett was relieved. This method wouldn’t cause cross-infection, just a bit wasteful of needles. Damn industrial level, an embroidery needle is more expensive than a small knife…
“What if the fee is reduced further?”
“Change the embroidery needle for a small knife, sterilize with fire, then, use a wooden stick to dip the vaccine and drop it on.” The middle-aged official answered without hesitation, obviously having prepared in advance. Seeing Garrett’s expression unchanged, he furrowed his brows, heavily sighing:
“But even so, the fee can’t possibly drop below five copper coins, can’t be popularized to... we are currently in a meeting discussing whether we can impose an additional tax to pay for this expense, haven’t discussed a result yet…”
Fortunately, the second and third waves of promotion still have several months to go. Sigh, if it really doesn’t work, we’ll just have to use the name of the review committee, enforce a tax.
Also don’t know how much backlash this will cause…
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