# 5209
Another story today from the UK.
National stockpiles of the 2009 Pandemrix H1N1 vaccine, largely spurned by an unreceptive public a year ago, are finding new life as recent demands for this year’s seasonal jab have reportedly resulted in localized shortages.
While not exactly ideal – since it doesn’t provide any protection against the influenza B or H3N2 strains of flu - this monovalent H1N1 vaccine should be largely protective against the predominant strain circulating in the UK at this time; Swine flu.
More than 12 million doses of GSK’s Pandemrix vaccine were left over after last year and are in the national stockpile. They will be released as needed to GPs in areas where the seasonal vaccine is in short supply.
This report form the Pharmaceutical Journal.
Pandemrix released from national stockpile to combat local flu vaccine shortages
Thu, 06/01/2011 - 16:44
It is a bit ironic to note that it wasn’t all that long ago that public health officials in the UK were coming under almost daily fire for ordering too much emergency vaccine in 2009 for what was later widely perceived to be a `mild’ pandemic virus.
Now, with the return of the virus this winter, the desire to get the jab has grown considerably.
Proving, I suppose, the old adage that it is better to have it and not need it . . . than to need it and not have it.
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