DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
News Release (2007/0238) issued by The Government News Network on 16
August 2007
Advanced supply
contracts to provide the vaccine for a possible flu pandemic were
today awarded by the Department of Health to pharmaceutical
company GSK and Baxter Healthcare.
The contracts, worth £155.4 million over four years, are part of
the Government's continued work to prepare for and reduce the
impact of a possible flu pandemic. Under these contracts GSK and
Baxter are committed to supply a pandemic influenza vaccine as
soon as the pandemic strain is identified and made available by
the World Health Organisation.
Health Minister Dawn Primarolo said:
"These contracts mean the UK is on the front-foot if a flu
pandemic occurs and are the latest steps towards ensuring we are
as fully prepared as possible. We take the potential threat posed
by pandemic flu very seriously and as the WHO has recognised, the
UK is among the best prepared countries in the world.
"With GSK and Baxter already committed to produce a tailored
vaccine for the NHS as soon as the pandemic is identified, we are
confident that we are putting in place another important component
of our preparation for a flu pandemic"
Influenza pandemics are caused when a new flu virus emerges to
which people have no immunity. A vaccine against the exact strain
will need to be made at the time the new virus emerges and when
the World Health Organisation recommends a switch from manufacture
of seasonal vaccines to production of vaccines against the new
pandemic strain. There will be a time lag of some months before
vaccine becomes available because the vaccine production process
is complex.
Notes to Editors:
1. Under these advanced supply contracts, the Department of
Health is reserving production capacity for the manufacture of the
new vaccine and making an investment in R&D by the
manufacturers. This means that although the UK may not take
delivery of vaccine until after a pandemic has started, it will
nevertheless have a guaranteed supply of vaccine at a time when
there will be significant international demand.
2. The tendering exercise was conducted in accordance with the
EU procurement regulations. The tender bids from Baxter and GSK
were judged to best meet all the required criteria including
technical and scientific requirements as well as providing the
best value for money.
[ENDS]