The pricing of cowpox vaccination... wasnât determined by Garrett.
He couldnât 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, Iâm not exactly sure how much it is... anyway, check the accounts, and then allocate it to each vaccineâŠ"
"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 thereâs no need to buy, renting is also possible, and I donât know the rental, how many vaccines a cowpox blister can produce, you have to ask them;"
More than one committee member facepalmed. You donât know this, you donât 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 itâs mass-produced, the price can be asked from the alchemy workshop;"
The transformation school mage, instantly the target of everyoneâs 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... Iâm not clear about this, but, itâs not necessary to use spell-casters, ordinary people can do it too, which is cheaper..."
"So, what about the research instituteâs 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 isnât 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 doesnât need to set the share too high? Anyway, if the money isnât enough, just start a project and ask the council for itâŠ
But it also canât be set too low... itâs 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, Iâm 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 Garrettâs 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, isnât 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."
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.
Itâs 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 thereâs an outbreak for the sake of young childrenâ
Itâs 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 ăCharm PersonăâŠ)
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 canât 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.
âWhat about those who canât afford ten gold coins?â
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 canât be expected from mages.
This cowpox vaccination, the review committee issued instructions, all the legwork, done by people from the municipal hallâŠ
âAccording to the instructions of the review committee, the smallpox vaccine should be administered as widely as possible.â Across Garrett, a middle-aged official flipped through the documents in his hands, respectfully answering:
âStarting 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 personââ
âWait wait wait!â
Garrett waved his hand to interrupt him:
â10 gold coins becoming 1 gold coin, wonât the people who were originally vaccinated make a fuss?â
What a joke, a direct 90% discount! Uh, although itâs not that they canât 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?
Donât talk about a 90% discount, try not returning to the original price after the Double Eleven discount period! Try giving an 80% discount! Complaints wouldnât flood you! If you donât promise âno price reduction within 1 monthâ/ ârefund the difference within 15 daysâ, just forget about it!
A 90% discount, arenât 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!âEven if itâs shield machines, itâs not the same seller!
âMage Nordmark, please rest assured, we have already made adequate preparations.â The middle-aged official across smiled confidently. He adjusted the chain of his pocket watch, his voice calm and measured:
âFirstly, 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.â
Those who can afford school are middle-class families and above... Garrett quickly thought:
âSo, under the guise of collective procurement to reduce prices?â
âNot only that.â The middle-aged official continued smiling:
âWe can also promote externally that the council subsidized the students and the military out of educational and safety needs.â
emmmm⊠But the gap is still quite big⊠Garrett struggled, still feeling that those who paid ten gold coins previously would be unwillingâŠ
âAnd, in the method of vaccination, we will also make some adjustments.â The middle-aged officialâs 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 doesnât manage the specific vaccination details, the power needed to have the bigshots issue an edict from top to bottom to spread this thing comprehensively, isnât just a little or two!
If he casually says âcanât do thisâ, everyoneâs efforts of a month or two would be ruined!
âWhat? Adjust?â Garrett almost jumped up. This thing
canât be adjusted randomly! Itâll cause cross-infection! âHow are you adjusting?â
âThe one gold coin per person vaccination scheme, no syringes, using a steel needle to dip the vaccine, directly piercing the patientâs skin. Of course, the steel needle will definitely not be reused, one per person, sterilized at high temperature after use.â
Garrett was relieved. This method wouldnât cause cross-infection, just a bit wasteful of needles. Damn industrial level, an embroidery needle is more expensive than a small knifeâŠ
âWhat if the fee is reduced further?â
âChange the embroidery needle for a small knife, sterilize with fire, then, use a wooden stick to dip the vaccine and drop it on.â The middle-aged official answered without hesitation, obviously having prepared in advance. Seeing Garrettâs expression unchanged, he furrowed his brows, heavily sighing:
âBut even so, the fee canât possibly drop below five copper coins, canât be popularized to... we are currently in a meeting discussing whether we can impose an additional tax to pay for this expense, havenât discussed a result yetâŠâ
Fortunately, the second and third waves of promotion still have several months to go. Sigh, if it really doesnât work, weâll just have to use the name of the review committee, enforce a tax.
Also donât know how much backlash this will causeâŠ
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