# 4174
Last August, in a blog entitled Public Health’s Biggest Pandemic Challenge, I wrote of my concerns that the uptake of the H1N1 vaccine would be far less than most officials hoped. In part, I wrote:
Given the forces lined up against it, of all of the challenges that face public health officials this fall and winter (and those are considerable), it may well be that winning the hearts and minds of the public on the safety and wisdom of vaccination will prove to be the toughest.
Fast-forward four months, and with the fall wave of the virus apparently on the wane, the public’s appetite for the vaccine is diminishing in many parts of the world.
There are already talks over what the US and Canada should do with their excess vaccine, and Reuters reported last week that at least two countries would like to `cut’ their order.
Of course, if a 3rd wave should appear this spring, or the virus acquire more virulence, a lot of people are going to rue the day they decided to forego the jab.
This report from SupplyManagement.com.
Swine flu vaccine orders ‘to be cut’
21 December 2009 | Jake Kanter
Germany and Spain are reportedly in talks with swine flu vaccine suppliers to reduce deliveries.
Government officials from both countries have met pharmaceutical vendors with a view to cutting back orders and potentially returning excess supplies as a result of low uptake.
The number of reported swine flu cases has fallen across Western Europe and earlier this month the World Health Organization said “influenza-like activity has peaked or passed its peak” in the region.
Reuters reported that German states have been in talks with suppliers without any resolution as yet. In addition, the government is looking to open talks with other countries interested in taking on excess supplies.
