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Flu pandemic medication doubled

22/11/2007

The government has announced plans to double the stockpile of antiviral medicines in preparation for any future flu pandemic.

Health secretary Alan Johnson said the increase in drugs would offer greater protection against the effects of a flu pandemic if a 'worst case scenario' happened.

As well as doubling the stock of antivirals, countermeasures include the purchase of 14.7 million courses of antibiotics to cover at-risk groups and the purchase of 350 million surgical masks and 34 million respirators for NHS and social care staff on the frontline.

The government currently has an existing stockpile of 3.3 million doses of H5N1 pre-pandemic vaccine for healthcare workers.

Mr Johnson said the revised plans were necessary as the "threat of an influenza pandemic remains real".

"While it is not possible to predict its timing or severity, the top priority for the government is to do all we possibly can to protect the public," he added.

"We know a pandemic would have significant social and economic impact as well as a serious effect on the health of the population. A thorough and integrated response is therefore critical to lessening its overall effect."

Earlier this week the World Health Organisation described the UK as being "in the vanguard of countries worldwide in preparing for a pandemic" and said it is "one of the leading global players in addressing the cross-sectoral issues [of a pandemic]".

The chief medical officer Sir Liam Donaldson commented: "We may not be able to prevent a pandemic, but with good planning we can reduce its impact on all aspects of society."