H1N1 : 40,000 people vaccinated in Luxembourg

[Pathfinder]

H1N1 : 40,000 people vaccinated in Luxembourg
24/12/2009

Luxembourg's health minister, Mars di Bartolomeo, released the vaccination campaign figure in an interview with RTL, a total of 40,000 people have received the H1N1 vaccine in the Grand-Duchy.

A total of 40,000 people got vaccinated against swine flu in Luxembourg but the question still remains as to what will happen to the 700,000 doses that the country ordered.

Currently, only one third of the vaccine doses have been delivered to Luxembourg but the virus is spreading much less rapidly than before. The minister has therefore decided it was unnecessary to deliver and pay for the rest of the vaccines.

The minister explained that although the amount of vaccines may seem excessive (700,000), the World Health Organisation had recommended 2 doses per person.

Although the amount of candidates for vaccination did not reach the Minister's expectations, he still deems the campaign ?successful?. Especially because the public opinion was reluctant due to misinformation and controversy.

The minister also took advantage of the interview to warn GPs who deliver sick leaves for no reason. By Autumn 2010, measures will be taken to eradicate the trend. Further measure will also be taken as regards the amendment of the law on Social Security that is 20 years old.

http://hello.news352.lu/edito-8987-h1n1-40000-people-vaccinated-in-luxembourg.html

[Pathfinder]

Re: H1N1 : 40,000 people vaccinated in Luxembourg

Published on 21/02/2010

A fraction of swine flu vaccine stock administered in Luxembourg

The swine flu vaccine in Luxembourg has not reached as many people as the government had hoped meaning that a very small fraction of the total amount in stock has been administered.

The swine flu vaccination campaign has fallen silent in Luxembourg as it seems to have now done world-wide. So just how is the vaccination going in the Grand Duchy and what is the current situation?

The H1N1 vaccine in Luxembourg has not been administered anywhere near the figure that the government calculated. From an order of 700,000 doses in storage, only 50,000, vaccines were administered, that is equal to one fourteenth.

Health Minster, Mars di Bartolomeo, stated that there will still be a stock kept in Luxembourg as a security measure should a new wave of swine-flu hit the country; however the Grand Duchy is also in negotiations with the World Health Organisation to donate a portion of the vaccines.

There are actually 2 components to the vaccine: The ?adjuvant?, i.e. the active amplifier and the more expensive component of the two and can be kept for at least four to five years and be used for an entirely different virus. The other ?antigen? can be kept for 18 months.

In an interview with ADR Radio, Mars Di Bartolomeo stated that the vaccination campaign was also far from over and therefore, it was not possible to publish all the exact number of previously vaccinated.

http://www.station.lu/edito-13544-a-fraction-of-swine-flu-vaccine-stock-administered-in-luxembourg.html