France's health minister Roselyne Bachelot has anounced that the Government will spend one billion euros on ninety-four million doses of the vaccine to combat the influenza A H1N1 virus. The H1N1 virus has caused the deaths of more than 400 people worldwide and the number of cases is nearing one hundred thousand. In France, the government has announced a mass programme of vaccinations - 94 million doses of the vaccine to the tune of one billion euros. It also has an option on 44 million doses more. France's Health Minister, Roselyne Bachelot, says it is money well spent: "You've got to look at the loss to the economy in terms of time off work and sick leave. There are statistics showing that a flu epidemic could cost billions in lost earnnig. Investing in health is always a good investment."
The H1N1 virus has caused the deaths of more than 400 people worldwide and the number of cases is nearing one hundred thousand.
In France, the government has announced a mass programme of vaccinations - 94 million doses of the vaccine to the tune of one billion euros. It also has an option on 44 million doses more.
France's Health Minister, Roselyne Bachelot, says it is money well spent: "You've got to look at the loss to the economy in terms of time off work and sick leave. There are statistics showing that a flu epidemic could cost billions in lost earnnig. Investing in health is always a good investment."
The presentation says existing government orders for H1N1 vaccines total 850 million to 900 million doses. On average, governments have ordered one dose per person, but most have options for, or are considering ordering, two doses per person, which would increase total orders to about 1.8 billion doses.
