Several European governments are trying to resell millions of doses of swine flu vaccine. So was the threat exaggerated after all? The press takes the authorities to task.After the panic, the polemics. Now that the H1N1 flu looks to be less serious - and Europeans less keen on vaccination - than expected, several governments are looking for a way to unload surplus stocks of vaccine. On 7 January, the health ministers of the German Länder will begin negotiating with GlaxoSmithKline labs to cancel half the German government's order for 50 million doses all told. To date only 10% of the country's population has been vaccinated. According to the Tagesspiegel, Berlin is thinking of unloading surplus stocks on countries like Iran, Iraq, Kosovo, Ukraine and Turkey.
After the panic, the polemics. Now that the H1N1 flu looks to be less serious - and Europeans less keen on vaccination - than expected, several governments are looking for a way to unload surplus stocks of vaccine. On 7 January, the health ministers of the German Länder will begin negotiating with GlaxoSmithKline labs to cancel half the German government's order for 50 million doses all told. To date only 10% of the country's population has been vaccinated. According to the Tagesspiegel, Berlin is thinking of unloading surplus stocks on countries like Iran, Iraq, Kosovo, Ukraine and Turkey.
Health Minister Roselyne Bachelot believes France will be able to avoid paying for the flu vaccine orders it cancelled. France has cancelled some 50 of the 94 million doses it ordered. The French government came in for some severe criticism this week, for an apparent case of over-preparedness for swine flu which may yet result in financial losses.
France has cancelled some 50 of the 94 million doses it ordered. The French government came in for some severe criticism this week, for an apparent case of over-preparedness for swine flu which may yet result in financial losses.
But then there's this:
Le Figaro: Grippe A : des millions de cas sans symptômes
