Strasbourg, 15/09/2009 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 15 September in Strasbourg, the European Commission adopted a new communication on combating influenza A (H1N1). The text, which is to constitute a strategy paper, stresses how important it is to have close coordination between member states. It does not make any really new proposals and does not contemplate any additional funding, either within the Union or towards third countries. In response to a request made during the informal meeting of health ministers on 6 and 7 July, the document in question comes with five working papers on: - the development of vaccines; - vaccination strategy; - joint acquisition of vaccines; - public information; - and support for third countries.
Vaccination. The Commission points out that vaccination is the main tool for defence against the virus A (H1N1) and suggests that member states that have not yet completed their procedures for ordering vaccines should seek to group their orders, if this helps to accelerate acquisition of the vaccines. It is currently thought that two injections of the vaccination may be necessary to ensure the patient's protection. The Commission, however, recommends that doses of the vaccine should not be reserved for the second injection, which may be necessary after three to four weeks, which allows new batches to be produced. It is recommended that the same vaccine be used for both injections, in order to ensure the patient is protected and to prevent undesirable side effects.
Vaccine strategies. The Commission puts two options to member states for establishing vaccination strategies. To ensure essential services are continued without interruption, member states may organise the vaccination of health personnel (up to 10 million people) and of those working in other essential services (water, electricity, civil protection, networks, transport, security, etc. up to 20 million people). The second group is composed of vulnerable persons: - very young children under 24 months (10 million); - people aged under 65 years with chronic illness (40 million); - pregnant women (7.5 million); and people over 65 (85 million). Finally, to reduce the rate of propagation of the pandemic, member states could add children and adolescents (85 million) to this. This table must allow member states, which have not yet set out their intentions, to specify their strategy. Commission services simply point out that influenza experts consider the rate of coverage of the general public should be about 54% to limit the impact of the pandemic. These same experts have recommended that, at the beginning of the vaccination campaign, priority should be given to health workers, persons suffering from chronic illnesses and pregnant women.
Support for third countries. The Commission will work with these countries, in particular on access to vaccines and on strengthening healthcare capacity. It suggests examining the possibility of reserving part of the vaccines already ordered by member states for developing countries.
Economic impact. The communication finally highlights the need to ensure continuity in economic activity and the functioning of essential services. Macro-economic studies place the cost of the pandemic at between 0.5% and 6.5% of GDP. A British study considers that 12% of the adult population would stop working during the peak of the pandemic in the United Kingdom. (O.J./transl.jl)