Swine flu vaccines all expired

The country's stock of H1N1 vaccine will not be replenished until March. Photo / File photo

New Zealand's entire stock of swine flu vaccine has expired - and new doses are not expected for three months.

The World Health Organisation declared an end to the H1N1 pandemic in spring but officials warned that further localised outbreaks might be expected in countries including New Zealand.

After last year's outbreak of H1N1 influenza, the Government bought 300,000 doses of the vaccine celvapan, about 80,000 of which have been used. The remaining 220,000 doses reached their "use-by" date in August - but the Ministry of Health is holding on to them in case they are needed in an emergency. When new stocks arrive in March the expired stocks - worth an estimated $3 million - will be thrown out.

The Ministry of Health would not confirm the cost because of commercial sensitivity but New Zealand is believed to have paid similar rates to Australia for the original stock of 300,000 doses.

Almost a third of the doses were distributed to health boards and doctors as back-up protection for frontline staff, in case the seasonal flu vaccine was not available.

The Ministry of Health's main tool for protecting the population against swine flu has been the seasonal flu vaccine, which immunises against H1N1 and two other strands of influenza. At the time the swine flu vaccine was ordered, Health Minister Tony Ryall said he hoped it would not be needed: "We want to be in the position of having the vaccine and not needing it, rather than the other way around."

There have been more than 14,000 confirmed swine flu deaths worldwide, including 17 in New Zealand. Health experts expect a future increase of H1N1 but the timing, size and severity is unknown.

Ministry of Health spokesman David Wansbrough said disposing of the 220,000 unused doses showed the country had not been hit hard.