UK: Move to recover cost of flu vaccine

[Guest guest]

" GSK stands to lose tens of millions of pounds alone from the UK

renegotiations and smaller amounts from other large purchasers such as

France. "

hopefully the so-called third world is smarter than this, but I'm sure

they are controlled and told what to do.

" The latest figures from England show that fewer than 3.8m people

have been vaccinated against pandemic flu since last autumn, although

12.5m doses of vaccine have been sent out for health services ready to be

used. "

wonderful for the 3/4 who were smart.....................sorry for the

1/4 who did get it

Sheri

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/0e4d6a46-fe1a-11de-9340-00144feab49a.html?nclick_check=1

UK: Move to recover cost of flu vaccine

By Jack, Pharmaceuticals Correspondent

Published: January 10 2010 20:00 | Last updated: January 10 2010

20:00

The government is attempting to claw back tens of millions of pounds from

flu vaccine manufacturers as it seeks to scale down an immunisation plan

to protect the country from a severe pandemic.

Officials have cancelled further orders from

Baxter, and are finalising a deal to limit purchases from

GlaxoKline, in an effort to recoup part of a £500m deal with

the two companies for sufficient vaccine to cover the entire

population.

Ministers have decided to abandon the aim of a universal flu vaccination

programme, although they are pursuing the drive to vaccinate children

under five as well as pregnant women, people with underlying health

problems and health and social care workers.

The mild nature of the swine flu virus, the need for only a single rather

than a double dose of vaccine and public suspicion and indifference to

vaccination have led to lower take-up than anticipated in the UK and

other countries.

The government’s decision – in the context of severe pressure on public

spending – comes at a time of similar moves by other countries including

France, Germany, the Netherlands and Spain.

Sir Salisbury, director of immunisation at the Department of

Health, said a break clause had now been activated in the contract agreed

with Baxter of the US, while discussions were under way with GSK, from

which most of the vaccine had been purchased.

Similar formal break clauses were not included in many countries’

contracts with vaccine suppliers, because they were drawn up at a time

when governments and manufacturers expected demand would substantially

outstrip supply.

However, GSK, like other large suppliers, including

Sanofi-Aventis of France, is coming under political pressure to

accept a scaling back of previously agreed volumes of orders.

GSK stands to lose tens of millions of pounds alone from the UK

renegotiations and smaller amounts from other large purchasers such as

France.

The drugmaker had previously estimated total sales of its pandemic flu

vaccine across more than 70 countries at £2bn over 2009 and 2010.

It may be able to recover some losses from sales to other countries

including in Latin America. Sanofi-Aventis, the world’s largest supplier

of flu vaccine, stands to lose significant sales, with smaller losses

from

Novartis, while other suppliers such as Baxter, CSL and MedImmune

– part of

AstraZeneca – had lower initial sales and much lower

exposure.

The UK and other countries are in talks about making donations of surplus

vaccine stocks available to poorer countries and selling excess stocks to

richer ones – although there are concerns about the issue of liability in

such cases.

Sir said the UK would keep some surplus stocks, both to prepare for

any possible third wave of the pandemic and for a future different

infection.

The vaccine contains an antigen to protect the body against the current

H1N1 virus which would not be useful against future mutations.

But it has an adjuvant stored separately until just before vaccination,

which enhances the body’s immune response and could be stored over longer

periods to help fight a future pandemic.

The latest figures from England show that fewer than 3.8m people have

been vaccinated against pandemic flu since last autumn, although 12.5m

doses of vaccine have been sent out for health services ready to be used.

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Sheri Nakken, R.N., MA, Hahnemannian

Homeopath

Vaccination Information & Choice Network, Washington State, USA

Vaccines -

http://vaccinationdangers.wordpress.com/

Vaccine Dangers, Childhood Disease Classes & Homeopathy

Online/email courses - next classes start January 6 & 7

http://www.wellwithin1.com/vaccineclass.htm or

http://www.wellwithin1.com/homeo.htm