Scottish government to buy up enough swine flu vaccine for entire population

THE Scottish government is to buy up enough swine flu vaccine to immunise the entire population, it was revealed today. The move was disclosed by Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon when she updated Parliament on latest efforts in the fight to contain the virus. In recent days, scientists had identified the genetic fingerprint of the European strain of the virus, she told MSPs. That was "a crucial first step" in the production of a vaccine and the aim in the UK was to secure supplies of an effective vaccine as soon as it became available. The aim was to secure enough supplies to allow vaccination of the whole population. Ms Sturgeon said the UK had advance supply contracts in place for a pandemic vaccine, but this could only be triggered in certain circumstances - like the World Health Organization declaring Phase 6 of a pandemic. "Obviously we do not know when or if these triggers will be reached," she said. "We do know that if we simply wait until then we risk losing the capacity manufacturers have available now which would allow us to build up a stockpile and get a vaccination programme under way before the winter. "I can therefore advise Parliament that I have decided, in discussion with the health ministers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, to secure and purchase early supplies of vaccine. "Negotiations with manufacturers are ongoing and I would hope that agreement on a contract and delivery schedule will be reached very soon." Ms Sturgeon said that by the time a pandemic was declared, global demand for a vaccine would outstrip the capacity to supply it. "Under any scenario and even after our sleeping contracts kick in, it will be a number of months before we get supplies sufficient for 100% of the population," she said. "The decision that we have taken now to utilise spare manufacturing capacity is therefore important in seeking to secure an early supply to allow a vaccination programme - focussed initially on priority groups - to get under way as quickly as possible." She began her progress report by telling MSPs that Scotland still has five confirmed cases of swine flu, a further four probable cases, and 12 possible cases. A nursery and a primary school in Greenock, Inverclyde, have already been closed amid fears that swine flu could be spreading among pupils. Two children, aged five and three, were found to be probable cases of the virus. The older child's 45-year-old mother and a 16-year-old girl are also probable cases. Ms Sturgeon said those cases are linked to a 19-year-old from Greenock who was confirmed with swine flu over the weekend. She told MSPs today there were no immediate plans to close further schools. "I also want to stress that these are not precedent-setting cases," she added. "If similar situations occur in other schools in Scotland, which we are obviously hoping will not happen, they will all be risk assessed on a case by case basis. Users' Com

Well, it looks like Scotland wil be the testing ground for the public's response to a mass vaccination program.

I'd rather take my chances with the flu than trust the vaccine.

www.dailyrecord.co.uk...

[edit on 14-5-2009 by kiwifoot]

Scotland to play the role of the lab rat once again ..... what surprises me is the amount of people here who will try to jump the queue to get to the front.

reply to post by kiwifoot


I do not see the Scottish population going for this. I've traveled there several times and my ancestors hail from there.....I doubt there will be a lot of cooperation.

Their guns were all taken away a few years ago....it should be interesting.

reply to post by Witness2008


What really freaks me out is this:

'Ms Sturgeon said the UK had advance supply contracts in place for a pandemic vaccine'

It looks like an attempt to sneak the vaccine into the entire UK by the back door. And hey, if it's good enough for the UK why not the US too.

This could get pretty hairy for all of us!



[edit on 14-5-2009 by kiwifoot]

reply to post by kiwifoot


Isn't the Masonic Grand Puh Bah's thrown in Scotland?

I talk to Scots all the time about chemtrails, they have some of the most suspicious minds I have ever met.

[edit on 14-5-2009 by Witness2008]

I agree that I will not be making a massive effort to get the vaccine due to my job and access to the more secure military installations I know when the time would be right to take this final resort and there has been no communication through any of the armed forces regarding this vaccine. Again I think the nation will be split down the middle with this the sheeple will jump in with both feet and the more sensible people will wait to see what the outcome will be. If I was a government with an ageing population then I think I would come up with a vaccine that would trim the herd

cancelled, wrong thread

[edit on 14-5-2009 by suzque66]