Almost 2 million swine flu jabs went unused

ALMOST two million swine flu vaccines bought by the Health Service Executive during the pandemic scare were never used.

It has also emerged that scientists behind World Health Organisation advice on stockpiling of pandemic flu drugs had financial ties with companies which stood to profit.

As the swine flu scare intensified, the HSE purchased three million vaccines at a cost of €12.8 million. An additional €26.6m was spent on GP fees; surgical equipment, including syringes and wipes; a national media information campaign; and expenses incurred due to increased hospital admissions.

However, just 1.1 million vaccines were administered.

Of the three million vaccines bought from drug manufacturers, 1.7m were distributed to doctors’ surgeries and HSE clinics.

Yet, 600,000 of these are still stockpiled at health centres, where nobody knows what to do with them.

Fine Gael has questioned why more of the population wasn’t vaccinated if there is such a surplus of the drug.

Discussions are ongoing between the HSE and the drug manufacturers, Glaxo Smithkline and Baxter, on what to do with the 1.9m unused vaccines – whether they should send them back or keep them for use again later this year.

Swine flu claimed 24 lives in Ireland since last August, when the first Irish death was confirmed. It is estimated up to 15% of the population were infected during the pandemic.

According to the HSE, up to 25% of the population was vaccinated against swine flu, a figure it says is much higher than in other countries.

“We hope this level of protection will help in mitigating the effects of any possible second wave of infection. If the vaccine is not required later this year, any unused vaccine will be collected by the HSE National Cold Chain Service and returned to the manufacturer.

“This is the same as what happens for the seasonal flu and any other vaccines,” said a HSE spokesman.

“Pandemic flu viruses are notoriously unpredictable and can mutate, becoming more virulent and lethal.

“The health services therefore had to take precautions by protecting our population through vaccination and by gearing up our health services to meet any possible surge.

“The number of people now immune to swine flu should help to mitigate the impact of any possible future wave of infection,” the spokesman added.

Fine Gael spokesman on health Dr James Reilly questioned why just 1.1m doses of the vaccine were distributed.

“There was an awful lot of money spent on advertising to the whole population if they only then used 1.1m vaccines.

“Why weren’t more people vaccinated?” he said.

Meanwhile, an investigation by the British Medical Journal and the Bureau of Investigative Journalism found a trio of scientists who drew up the key World Health Organisation guidelines had previously received payment for other work from Roche, which makes Tamiflu, and Relenza manufacturer GlaxoSmithKline.

The British Medical Journal said the scientists had openly declared these interests in other publications, yet WHO made no mention of the links.

The report estimates that the drugs giants banked more than €5 billion as a result of the WHO recommendations.

A report from the Council of Europe has criticised the lack of transparency around the handling of the swine flu pandemic.

The WHO denied anyone connected to the swine flu response is the subject of an undeclared conflict of interest and said it has existing mechanisms in place to prevent such a situation from occurring.