MORE EVIDENCE THAT GOVT'S MOVING TOWARD RELENZA and away from...

MORE EVIDENCE THAT GOVT'S MOVING TOWARD RELENZA and away from tamiflu


Swine Flu Prevention Costs More than 60 Million Euros
published today 07:50 PM, updated today 09:19 PM

Image: YLE
Finland has spent more than 60 million euros on swine flu prevention measures. The matter was first reported by the online business daily Taloussanomat.

Previously, the public had been told swine flu vaccines from the pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline cost 37 million euros. A total of 5.3 million vaccine doses are to be paid for by the state.

Recently, the costs of other preventative measures have also been made public. In May, the National Emergency Supply Agency (NESA) ordered a large number of protective masks, according to Ilkka Kananen, the agency's chief executive officer. The value of the masks is approximately ten million euros.

”The majority of the masks are regular breathing masks. However we also have eye protection for health care staff in particular,” says Kananen.

NESA has also ordered at least 13 million euros in medicines meant to treat the swine flu virus. Some of the cost has gone towards Tamiflu, which had originally been intended for a possible bird flu outbreak. However, the majority of the swine flu medicine on stock is the antiviral drug Relenza.

Kananen says that the agency has enough Relenza to treat about half of the population. He adds that using the stockpile of supplies requires the permission from the government.

NESA works under the auspices of the Ministry of Employment and the Economy. It aims to maintain Finland’s security of supply.