A swine flu vaccine will be fast-tracked for use in Britain within five days once it is developed, and 130 million doses are on order.
The Department of Health expects to have enough vaccine this year to give it to half the population. Further supplies will be available if needed. Each person will need two doses of the vaccine, unless one single jab is found to provide high rates of immunity.
The first doses specific to the H1N1 swine flu virus are set to arrive in September and could be given regulatory approval in less than a week.
The move came after the first British patient without underlying health problems died from swine flu, taking the number of swine flu-linked deaths in Britain to 15. Peter Holden, the British Medical Association’s lead negotiator on swine flu, said that GPs’ surgeries were prepared for one of the biggest winter vaccination campaigns in almost 50 years. He said that, although swine flu was not generally causing serious illness in patients, health officials were eager to start a mass vaccination campaign, starting first on groups that were susceptible to infection or prone to complications.
It is likely that the elderly would be given a seasonal flu jab to guard against other circulating flu strains — as happens every year — as well as the swine flu vaccination. “The high-risk groups will be done at GPs’ surgeries. People are still making decisions over this, but we want to get cracking before we get a second wave, which is traditionally far more virulent,” Dr Holden said.
It takes several weeks or months to make flu vaccines, which are cultured using chicken eggs. The European Medicines Agency said the fast-tracked approval procedure has involved trials of a “mock-up” vaccine and that the speed would not compromise patient safety. “The vaccines are authorized with a detailed risk management plan,” the agency said.
What U.K. residents thought:
“I am glad there are lots of lab rats willing to try this new swine flu jab out for the rest of us. I hope they tag you all so the rest of us can watch how it turns out in the end.
Tina, Eastham, UK”
“I don’t understand, if so many die of ‘normal’ flu, why is there never an annual mass vacciantion program. I will not be having the vaccine, Why would a government so precious about health and safety be so keen to put us all at a potential risk?
sarah, cardiff, ”
“This is for M Moore from Colchester, you need to wake up…Have you even looked into what they put in flu vaccines? I bet you haven’t….open your eyes to the corruption that the monetary system needs to survive..viruses = problem, scared citizens = reaction, vaccine = solution and money..LOTS OF IT
D Prendergast, Southampton, England”
“i agree with everyone here.
our illustrious unelected leader; Gordon Brown can lead by example and be the first to take the jab, closely followed by his wife and kids, our corrupt parliament, the royal family and all the so called doctors!
people, tell your kids not take ANY kind of jab at school!”
George, london, England
“I had flu jabs every year for about eight years and after the last one I developed RO antibodies which is an auto immune disease, where the bodies own imune system attacks itself. It has, as yet not harmed me. I have stopped having flu jabs and am reasonably healthy since stopping. I blame vaccines
JabsToBlame, cheshire, uk”
“How can the new vaccination be licensed as safe for mass vaccination by the autumn when it’s not developed yet? Let’s see every cabinet member being vaccinated, give it 6 months and then decide! Swine Flu does not seem to be as fatal as ‘normal’ flu but we can’t get mass vaccinated against that!”
claire, carterton, oxon
“This is it boys and girls, the New World Order by injection. If this enforced vaccination goes ahead, then really, ask yourselves one question :- Where has my human right to say NO gone? Answer:- down the toilet along with all your other basic rights as a member of the human family. Say NO now !!”
Dave, kamloops, canada
“Never take ANY drug or vaccine until it’s been on the market for at least seven years… by then the true side effects will show up in a population. Usually at this stage they are taken off the market anyway!
You would have to be a complete plonker to roll your sleeve up for this one.”
concerned, wellington, New Zealand
“DO NOT HAVE THE VACCINE!!!!!!!!!
All you people that are saying the people who do not have it are going to die think again its adios to you guys. They are trying to cut the population! I bet most of you dont even know that the swine flu was MAN MADE its a mixture of swine flu human flu and avian flu”
pooch, nowhere, nnnn
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