Medsafe examining two alternative flu vaccines

The Health Ministry has said it hopes to start this year's vaccination programme in about 10 days.

The Health Ministry's drug safety authority Medsafe is examining two alternative influenza vaccines after a manufacturing fault left its 2005 influenza vaccination unable to fully protect against one strain of the virus.

Medsafe is this afternoon meeting representatives of Sanofi Pasteur, the French vaccine manufacturer from which the Government's drug buying agency Pharmac negotiated a supply of 750,000 doses of the vaccine, Medsafe spokesman Stewart Jessamine said.

Medsafe was told by Sanofi Pasteur on February 28 the vaccine was unable to protect against the strain A/Wellington (H3N2), which the World Health Organisation recommended be included in southern hemisphere vaccinations.

"As a result of an error in manufacturing, we know that two of the strains of virus in the vaccine are effective and the third one is likely to be effective in some of the population, but not necessarily all of the population," Dr Jessamine said.

The H3N2 strain had circulated New Zealand last year and had been quite a severe form of the virus.

"We can't say this is the one that's going to occur this year, because it's too early to know for sure, and any flu can give you nasty symptoms," he told National Radio.

Two other vaccines were suitable as an alternative vaccination and the ministry was trying to establish if the manufacturers of either of those could supply 750,000 doses.

"We know there's a lot being made, it's a matter of where we can purchase it.

"It can be airlifted here within a few days."

The ministry has said it hopes to start this year's vaccination programme in about 10 days.

However, Age Concern president Terri Potroz said Medsafe had failed to inform the elderly about the options they had.

"If they are still investigating the effectiveness of the vaccine, how can they give an assurance the vaccine programme will start in 10 days?"

Grey Power president Graham Stairmand said no company would be able to manufacturer 750,000 vaccines in a few days.

"They all come in their own little vials, so I can't see how they can do that."

GP Council chairman Dr Peter Foley said doctors had been ready for the arrival of the vaccine.

"It hasn't arrived, it's not going to, and we don't know when it's going to," he told National Radio.

"This is the first year Pharmac has been involved in the purchase of the vaccine and with their greater negotiating skills, the Ministry left it to them.

"But it's disappointing they are not delivering."

- NZPA