Sally Furniss
Well-known member
Linked Pacific countries included in NZ vaccination plan Last Updated: Fri, 8 May 2009
New Zealand says any new vaccines produced to combat swine flu will be used first for New Zealanders and the three islands with constitutional links to the nation - but would also consider helping other Pacific countries.
Director of public health at the Ministry of Health, Mark Jacobs, says New Zealand has a formal arrangement with Australia's CSL, the only influenza vaccine manufacturer in the Southern Hemisphere, which gives a guaranteed supply of any new vaccine if a pandemic was declared.
While a vacinne for swine flu has not been developed, Mr Jacobs said they New Zealand would consider the region in the case of a pandemic.
"We have already undertaken to provide the vaccines, as soon as we get them, to the three Pacific Islands we have constitutional links with - the Cook Islands, Niue and Tokelau " he said.
"Beyond that, obviously we would be very happy to look at any international initiatives to support wider provision of the vaccines, but we'll obviously also be looking to use our vaccines to make sure that all of New Zealanders will be offered the vaccine."
http://australianetworknews.com/stories/200905/2564866.htm?desktop
New Zealand says any new vaccines produced to combat swine flu will be used first for New Zealanders and the three islands with constitutional links to the nation - but would also consider helping other Pacific countries.
Director of public health at the Ministry of Health, Mark Jacobs, says New Zealand has a formal arrangement with Australia's CSL, the only influenza vaccine manufacturer in the Southern Hemisphere, which gives a guaranteed supply of any new vaccine if a pandemic was declared.
While a vacinne for swine flu has not been developed, Mr Jacobs said they New Zealand would consider the region in the case of a pandemic.
"We have already undertaken to provide the vaccines, as soon as we get them, to the three Pacific Islands we have constitutional links with - the Cook Islands, Niue and Tokelau " he said.
"Beyond that, obviously we would be very happy to look at any international initiatives to support wider provision of the vaccines, but we'll obviously also be looking to use our vaccines to make sure that all of New Zealanders will be offered the vaccine."
http://australianetworknews.com/stories/200905/2564866.htm?desktop