# 1538
Earlier this week, Japan announced their plans to acquire another 10 million doses of a pre-pandemic vaccine. Now Finland is ordering enough to provide inoculations for their entire country.
No one knows for sure how effective these pre-pandemic vaccines, based on older existing clades of the H5N1 virus, will be. But it is hoped that they will provide at least some protection from the bird flu virus.
It may not stop infection, but it might lessen the effects of the virus on those who contract it.
At least, that's the hope.
Preparations Underway To Deal With Influenza Pandemic
Published 25.01.2008, 17.16
Image: AP Graphics Bank
Finland's National Public Health Institute has made a decision on acquiring enough influenza vaccine for the vaccination of the entire population.
The vaccine is intended for use if the H5N1 virus that causes avian flu mutates into a contagious strain that can be passed from person to person, posing the threat of a pandemic.
Vaccination is considered as the best means to avoid the deaths and severe illnesses that a pandemic would cause. The vaccine being purchased by the National Public Health Institute is believed to give at least some degree of protection against infection by a H5N1-type virus.
The purchase of 5.2 million doses of the drug is being made from the GlaxoSmithKline pharmaceutical company at a cost of 36.4 million euros. Parliament approved funding in the last state supplementary budget. Delivery is expected this spring and summer.
In 2006 the National Public Health Institute placed an order with a Dutch producer for a similar model vaccine, but the supplier was unable to make delivery.
