The European Commission yesterday unveiled a new swine flu strategy aimed at helping member states coordinate better an eventual spread of the disease.
The strategy suggests that member states that end up with more vaccines than needed would be able to share them with the other EU countries to have as much coverage as possible.
The measure is especially pertinent after studies found that one shot of pandemic vaccine, not two as originally thought, is likely to suffice for most people. In fact, governments that placed early orders could have excess stocks.
The news comes after the Education Ministry this week announced that there would be an informational campaign in schools about swine flu. Minister Dolores Cristina said that schools would open as usual on September 28.
Leading flu vaccine manufacturers, including GlaxoSmithKline, Sanofi-Aventis, Novartis, CSL and Sinovac, have all found their vaccines offer good protection after just one dose, confounding expectations that two shots would be needed.
"We need to remain vigilant and continue to coordinate our preparations to respond to the pandemic in the months ahead," Health EU Commissioner Androulla Vassiliou said in Brussels.
"There is a need for closer coordination across sectors and member states, whether at European level, national, regional or local, to help address the social, economic and health impacts of this pandemic," she said.
Vaccination remains the most essential element of the EU strategy to address the pandemic. However, the Commission states that, due to limited capacity to produce large amounts of vaccines in a short timeline, an adequately planned vaccination strategy is required.
Based on the current scientific evidence and epidemiological trends, the Commission's strategy sets out possible options to be considered by member states when determining their vaccination strategies.
An option being suggested is a joint procurement mechanism to support member states still in the process of ordering vaccines. According to the Commission, this could lead to savings for smaller member states, although the primary aim is to bundle together calls for national tenders.
The new strain of flu, declared a pandemic last June, could eventually infect two billion people, according to World Health Organisation estimates.