Government to tap vaccine stock as flu death toll rises

The Prime Minister revealed that he was in discussions with the Department of Health (DoH) to siphon off some of Britain’s stockpile of the drug designed to tackle the H1N1 swine flu virus, Pandemix – totalling 12.8 million doses – as parts of Britain experienced shortages in flu vaccines.

He was talking as the Health Protection Agency said that 11 more people have died from flu across the UK this week – three from Influenza B strain – taking the total to 50 since October last year.

The acting Chief Medical Officer for England, Professor Dame Sally Davies, told Channel 4 News that she had agreed to make the H1N1 vaccine stocks available to GPs to compensate for the “patchy” distribution of the combined vaccine.

“The reason I am making it available is because we know the majority of deaths are caused by H1NI, the majority of patients in critical care are sick with H1N1 and the young people who are being affected badly are generally – almost all – affected by H1N1,” she said.

Forty-five of the 50 people who have died from flu have the H1N1 virus, while five suffered from Influenza B, the strain which a flu expert said could be being ignored because the former is seen as “the only boy on the block.”

Professor of Virology at St. Bartholomew’s & The Royal London Hospital, John Oxford, told Channel 4 News: “B strain is always the one that’s thought less about, the forgotten in-law, in the shadow of swine flu and Influenza A, but the figures show it’s still a killer.”

The standard seasonal flu shot comprises of trivalent influenza vaccine containing all three viruses; Influenza A, B and H1N1 swine flu, while Pandemix only attacks the latter.

Prof Oxford added that people should be made aware that if they receive a Pandemix jab they will not be vaccinated against Influenza B.

He said “While I think it’s a good thing on balance for the Government to tap into those Pandemix stocks, people should be aware if they get a jab of it, that it does not cover Influenza B.”

Flu vaccine: Your questions answered

At least 700 people are in critical care with reports emerging that hospitals are having to postpone operations due to the number of beds required for flu sufferers.

As a result of the vaccine deficit, flu vaccine manufacturers have been approached by the Government to check their European stocks, which could be acquired to help replenish supplies across Britain.

‘No national shortage’

The DoH was responding to reports of patients being turned away for jabs from their GPs, but insisted there was “no national shortage”, only “local supply issues”.

Sanofi Pasteur MSD, which manufactures some of the jabs, said it had been asked by the DoH about the number of available doses in the UK and the number of UK-licensed doses which could be brought into the UK.

Earlier, the Prime Minister told a news conference in Manchester: “We are keeping a very close eye on this.

“There’s a national stock of the vaccine from the pandemic of 2009 and, while that vaccine is slightly different to the vaccine we would now be giving, it does have some of the same characteristics, so the urgent discussion in the DoH is to work out whether the vaccine would be useful.”

Around 16 million patients are considered “at-risk” and in need of the jab – people over 65, cancer patients, serious heart problem sufferers, and this year pregnant women – which they receive on the NHS, and 14.7m doses of seasonal flu vaccine were ordered by GPs in England this year.

GPs had to order stocks in March based on how many people contracted influenza the previous year and how many turned up to receive a jab.

However, the DoH only informed GPs of its plans to vaccinate pregnant women in May, long after the majority of doctors had ordered their stocks.

After orders are submitted, it takes around six months for the stocks to be manufactured in time for the winter, so it is common practice for GPs to submit their orders in February.

The DoH hopes local supply issues can be resolved by surgeries with surplus vaccine offering it to others suffering shortages.

A spokesman said: “We are aware of some reports of supply issues in some areas.

“We are working with the NHS at the local level to ensure available supplies of surplus vaccine are moved to where there is a need for them.

Criticism

Shadow health secretary John Healey said: “This action is better late than never but will only add to the confusion over the Government’s handling of the swine flu outbreak.

“The take-up of the flu jab has been down on last year, yet there are still reports of GPs running out of vaccines.”

A letter from the DoH’s Chief Pharmaceutical Officer, Dr Keith Ridge, to Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) dated 23 December last year, recognised local shortages at both pharmasies and wholsalers.

It informed PCTs that it was transferring over 58,000 batches of various trpes of antivirals, including Tamiflu and Relenza, from national antiviral stockpiles to wholesalers and pharacies.

The letter also noted that the DoH was having “at least daily” teleconference calls with manufacturers to assess the stockholding.

Mother dies

A hospital announced today that a 32-year-old Suffolk woman died following swine flu “complications” two weeks after giving birth to a son.

Last week, it was announced that sufferers have increased up by 40 per cent year on year and consultation rates have increased by 43 per cent.

The family of Sarah Applin of Thurston, Suffolk, urged pregnant women to opt for vaccination, after their daughter died from swine flu this week.

Staff said Mrs Applin died at West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds on Tuesday.

“Our daughter …sadly died…of complications with pneumonia following treatment for swine flu,” said her parents, Jane and Barry Waterman.

“We would like to strongly urge any person on the at-risk register, especially pregnant woman, to have the flu vaccination.”