Mass swine flu vaccination ‘could cost up to £10m’ in Wales

PLANS to vaccinate everyone in Wales against swine flu could cost up to £10m, it has been estimated.
The Welsh Conservatives have said frontline budgets must not be cut to meet the costs of the massive vaccination programme.
And it emerged last night that the Welsh Assembly Government has not yet had a reply from the Treasury about who will foot the bill for dealing with the swine flu pandemic.
Wales has ordered six million doses of the swine flu vaccine, which should be available in weeks.
It is sufficient for everyone to receive the necessary two doses, three weeks apart.
It is expected that those at greatest risk of suffering a serious illness and frontline emergency workers will be offered a vaccine first.
Experts believe that up to a million people in Wales – one in three – could become ill with swine flu over the next 18 months.
Tory Andrew RT Davies, the Shadow Health Minister, said: “With an estimated six million anti-viral treatments heading to Wales, we are looking at a cost of around £8m to £10m.
“While I fully appreciate how important these vaccinations are, I would like an assurance that frontline budgets will not be raided in order to fund the programme and that reserve funding will instead be used.”
Experts hope that the swine flu vaccine could help limit the spread of the virus – it could prevent one in six cases of illness – and reduce the impact on the health service and the Welsh economy.
Westminster Health Secretary Andy Burnham said last night: “We have made very good plans in this country for this eventuality, for being in this situation, and Britain is at the front of the queue in the world for vaccine. We could not be in a better position.
“So as soon as stocks are made, the very first vaccines will come to this country. We expect to get the first next month.”
An Assembly Government spokesman said: “We have not yet had a response from the Treasury on the First Minister’s letter on who will pay for dealing with swine flu.
“The Department of Health is leading with the procurement of the vaccine for the UK. Wales will receive its proportion.
“Due to commercial confidentiality, it would be inappropriate to comment on the cost of the vaccine.”
Predictions about the cost of a mass vaccination programme came as it emerged a Bedfordshire GP who had swine flu died from natural causes.
A blood clot to Dr Michael Day’s lungs was the major factor in his death. The 64-year-old died on Saturday in the Luton and Dunstable Hospital.
The results of a post-mortem examination into the death of six-year-old Chloe Buckley, from West Drayton, are still pending.
Wales continues to lag about a month behind England and Scotland, where there have been 16 deaths linked to the swine flu virus.
Official figures last night estimated that 585 people have flu-like symptoms in Wales. There are still low levels in all regions of Wales, but the virus is “increasing”.
Public health officials have urged parents not to send their children to school if they have any flu-like symptoms, even though the end of the school year is imminent.