Maintain pressure on reforms to protect NHSScottish health secretary calls for government-funded swine flu vaccinations
Scottish health secretary Nicola Sturgeon has called on the Westminster government to pay the £100m cost of providing everyone in Scotland with swine flu vaccinations.
Ms Sturgeon said that the cost of a vaccination programme should the virus become more widespread should be met by the UK government.
The total number of confirmed swine flu cases as of yesterday evening is 626 and that is expected to rise in the next few days as new swabbing centres open.
Ms Sturgeon said: ‘The UK holds contingency funding for contingencies. If a flu pandemic is not a contingency, most people would struggle to think what is.’
She said that offering everyone in Scotland a vaccination would cost at least £100m when available, but was the best way to limit the damage caused by swine flu.
‘It’s the right policy, it’s obviously a decision that’s been taken by health ministers right across the UK, she added.
‘Even if the flu virus doesn’t become any more serious - and it’s important to point out that most people experience mild symptoms - then it will have a big economic and social impact, and that’s why it’s the right policy.’
Online training units, written and reviewed by experts. Earn two hours' CPD and a personalised certificate for your portfolio.
Subscribers get five FREE learning units and non-subscribers can access each learning unit for £10 + VAT.
Share
Have your say
You must sign in to make a comment.