tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
Australia's chief medical officer Dr Jim Bishop has defended the Federal Government's response to the swine flu pandemic.
The Government spent more than $100 million buying 21 million doses of a vaccine.
It had intended to vaccinate half the population with two doses each, but subsequent research found only one dose was required.
The Opposition has accused the Government of wasting money on doses that were not used.
Dr Bishop says the initial decision to purchase 21 million doses was based on the best advice at the time.
"You can say in hindsight that wasn't correct and I agree, but nevertheless all the experts' advice is to say with a novel virus, you need two doses," he said.
"We bought sufficient [doses] for half the population."
Liberal Senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells says there is evidence to suggest the take-up rate was low and that wastage rates were high.
"Considering how we bought 21 million doses, there is a lot of taxpayers' money that has probably thrown away as a consequence of the way this whole thing evolved," she said.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/10/20/3043524.htm?section=justin
The Government spent more than $100 million buying 21 million doses of a vaccine.
It had intended to vaccinate half the population with two doses each, but subsequent research found only one dose was required.
The Opposition has accused the Government of wasting money on doses that were not used.
Dr Bishop says the initial decision to purchase 21 million doses was based on the best advice at the time.
"You can say in hindsight that wasn't correct and I agree, but nevertheless all the experts' advice is to say with a novel virus, you need two doses," he said.
"We bought sufficient [doses] for half the population."
Liberal Senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells says there is evidence to suggest the take-up rate was low and that wastage rates were high.
"Considering how we bought 21 million doses, there is a lot of taxpayers' money that has probably thrown away as a consequence of the way this whole thing evolved," she said.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/10/20/3043524.htm?section=justin