Maintain pressure on reforms to protect NHSSwine flu cases fewer than feared
The second wave of swine flu is well under way, but peak numbers may be lower than feared, according to the chief medical officer.
An estimated 18,000 new cases in England in the last week, up from 14,000 in the previous week and 9,000 the week before that, is nowhere near the doubling that had been anticipated.
Sir Liam Donaldson said: “We may have got a lucky break in how the virus has behaved at the start of our flu season, and we may be able to get the vaccine out there before our flu season really gets under way.
“We are well into the second wave of pandemic flu, having had the first wave in July but it’s proving so far to be a slow burner.”
Deliveries of the GSK swine flu vaccine are imminent, he said, and the first doses will be given to priority groups and frontline health workers at the end of the month.
Half a million doses of the Baxter swine flu vaccine are in stock.
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Readers' comments (2)
Liz Miller | 11-Oct-2009 11:11 pm
Do you think that is as close as Liam can come to admitting
"I was wrong and I wasted millions of pounds of taxpayers money on a mad punt.
On the other hand I have ingratiated myself sufficiently to ensure plenty of lucrative directorships with Big Pharma once I get kicked out of office"
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Anonymous | 12-Oct-2009 10:03 pm
How much money has been wasted on providing patients with "swine flu" after diagnosis by "experts" after 3 -5 hours training?? The vast majority of patients have not had anything remotely similar to swine flu but have been diagnosed and prescribed Tamiflu by the Flu Line?? how much money has this cost? and is this why now we are hearing about job and recruitment freezes in many pcts?? Lots of worried well have been given Tamiflu and it now sits in their medicine cabinets in readiness. I also heard of many people coming and picking up thier own medication - knee jerk reaction to prove that this government were actually doing something. On the otherhand with so many health professionals refusing the swine flu vaccine there should be plenty for Joe Public to have. I still havent seen any results from the vaccines given so far (including the children used as guinea pigs)
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