The government has reached a deal with officials in pharmaceutical jobs at GlaxoSmithKline (GSK)
regarding its order for the swine flu vaccine.
According to the Department of Health, the number of doses of
the H1N1 vaccine it will purchase are to be cut by about
two-thirds.
This decision has been taken because the swine flu outbreak did
not prove to be as bad as had initially been feared.
The government will make up the order by purchasing other
products from GSK, including vaccinations against H5N1 bird
flu.
As a result, it will be able to avoid paying a costly
cancellation fee.
Health secretary Andy Burnham commented: "This agreement means
we are ready if a bird flu pandemic occurred and allows us to
maintain our status as one of the most prepared countries in the
world."
He added that the deal represents good value for the taxpayer
and allows the Department of Health to retain a strategic stockpile
of the swine flu vaccine.
This comes shortly after the government advised anyone
travelling to the southern hemisphere this year to ensure they are
vaccinated against swine flu.