Unused swine flu vaccine could cost NHS millions

The Times (UK) 9 January 2010

The number of people coming down with swine flu has fallen so low that the Government is to give away or sell its excess supplies of vaccine, at a potential cost to the NHS of millions of pounds.

Officials are in discussion with manufacturers on how to dispose of more than 60 million doses of vaccine, amid predictions that a “third wave” of the pandemic is unlikely this year.

Ministers had previously signed deals worth an estimated £155 million with GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) and Baxter for enough vaccine to protect the entire population during a pandemic, but cases of swine flu have now dropped to well below the level of flu cases expected in a typical winter.

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