UK government builds stockpile of vaccine against H5N1 pandemic flu strain

9 March 2006

The UK Government has purchased 3.5 million doses of a vaccine against the H5N1 strain of bird flu for the vaccination of healthcare workers in the event of a pandemic. On 24 February, it awarded two contracts to Chiron Corporation and Baxter Healthcare Corporation.

The UK Government has purchased 3.5 million doses of a vaccine against the H5N1 strain of bird flu for the vaccination of healthcare workers in the event of a pandemic. On 24 February, it awarded two contracts to Chiron Corporation and Baxter Healthcare Corporation.

UVIG welcomes this decision by the government as an important step forward in preparing for an influenza pandemic and looks forward to further information on how the government plans to use the stockpile.

Should an influenza pandemic in humans occur, the vaccine would serve as a useful first line of defence until a vaccine against the exact strain circulating in humans could be produced.