Deal On Surplus Flu Vaccine

The Department of Health and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) have reached an agreement on outstanding orders of the swine flu vaccine, which could provide significant savings for the Government.

The final settlement was mutually agreed as representing fair value for the UK Government and the manufacturer and means savings of around a third of the original value of the total orders with GSK.

As part of measures taken to protect the UK population from swine flu, the Government ordered sufficient vaccine to protect the entire population if needed.

As evidence about the swine flu virus developed, experts advised that vaccinating the entire population would no longer be necessary.

The Department entered negotiations to reduce the orders for the Pandemrix vaccine produced by GSK.

The Government also cancelled the contract with Baxter for swine flu vaccine on 28 February.

Order with GSK have now been capped at 34.8 million doses, including those already received. There will be no cancellation fee.

Vaccine that has not been used will be kept as a strategic reserve in case the virus causes a third wave of illness, the Government said.

It intends to donate 3.8 million doses of vaccine to the World Health Organization to boost immunity in Africa before the rainy season.

In addition to limiting the H1N1 vaccine to be delivered, the Department will receive other GSK products.

These products will be H5N1 'bird flu' vaccine and courses of the antiviral Relenza to replace the amount used during the swine flu outbreak.

Health Secretary Andy Burnham, said: "I am pleased we have reached an agreement that is good value for the taxpayer and means that the Department has retained a strategic stockpile to protect the UK population without incurring a cancellation fee.

"The probability of a 'bird flu' pandemic, which is likely to be more severe than swine flu, has not diminished," he added.

(PR/GK)