I’ll get bird flu drug last, says Abbott

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       I'll get bird flu drug last, says Abbott

 June 7, 2007 - 11:39AM

Health Minister Tony Abbott says he will be the last person in Australia to be given a bird flu vaccine or drug to treat the deadly virus in the event of a pandemic.

Almost half of all Australians could potentially be treated with flu drugs like Tamiflu at current stockpile levels, Mr Abbott told his regional counterparts at an APEC meeting in Sydney.

Those who were sick and in the frontline of the pandemic fight would get preference for treatment, he said.

"In a nutshell the conclusion that we have come to thus far is that anti-virals should be used while they last to protect people with very high levels of exposure to avian influenza ... and to treat people in the early stages of illness," he said.

The minister said in situations of "extreme fear" it was inevitable people would be concerned others were getting a better deal.

"In order to try to reassure the public that no favourites are being played here ... I have said to the public I will not be making anti-virals available to me and that if we have a pre-pandemic vaccine I would be the last person in Australia to be given it.

"Because the truth is I do not as minister keep the hospitals going; I do not as minister treat sick people; I do not as minister help keep power stations going; I do not as minister keep the streets safe."

The APEC Health Ministers Meeting has been told that a pandemic would potentially kill 48,000 Australians and hospitalise a further 150,000, with seven million seeking medical attention.

The federal government has spent almost $600 million on pandemic preparedness but a stockpile of effective vaccine has yet to be produced.

The meeting, a prelude to the September APEC summit, focuses on efforts to prepare businesses and social institutions to cope in the event of an outbreak.

Mr Abbott said he hoped all 21 member economies would agree to continue sharing samples of the latest circulating strains of the mutating H5N1 virus to ensure new vaccines work.

This comes after Indonesia's five-month "freeze" on sharing in protest against the fact drug companies could develop vaccines that were too expensive for its population.

Mr Abbott indicated he would agree to share an Australian-made vaccine with Indonesia and other neighbours once it became available.

"That's what we did with anti-virals once we had a stockpile in this country and I don't see why we wouldn't operate on the same basis with vaccines," Mr Abbott told reporters before the meeting.

The 12 ministers and nine senior delegates will present a declaration when the meeting concludes on Friday.

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Guests Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Guest Group	Post Options Post Reply Quote Guests Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: I’ll get bird flu drug last, says Abbott Posted: June 07 2007 at 2:40am
	I'll get bird flu drug last, says Abbott June 7, 2007 - 11:39AM Health Minister Tony Abbott says he will be the last person in Australia to be given a bird flu vaccine or drug to treat the deadly virus in the event of a pandemic. Almost half of all Australians could potentially be treated with flu drugs like Tamiflu at current stockpile levels, Mr Abbott told his regional counterparts at an APEC meeting in Sydney. Those who were sick and in the frontline of the pandemic fight would get preference for treatment, he said. "In a nutshell the conclusion that we have come to thus far is that anti-virals should be used while they last to protect people with very high levels of exposure to avian influenza ... and to treat people in the early stages of illness," he said. The minister said in situations of "extreme fear" it was inevitable people would be concerned others were getting a better deal. "In order to try to reassure the public that no favourites are being played here ... I have said to the public I will not be making anti-virals available to me and that if we have a pre-pandemic vaccine I would be the last person in Australia to be given it. "Because the truth is I do not as minister keep the hospitals going; I do not as minister treat sick people; I do not as minister help keep power stations going; I do not as minister keep the streets safe." The APEC Health Ministers Meeting has been told that a pandemic would potentially kill 48,000 Australians and hospitalise a further 150,000, with seven million seeking medical attention. The federal government has spent almost $600 million on pandemic preparedness but a stockpile of effective vaccine has yet to be produced. The meeting, a prelude to the September APEC summit, focuses on efforts to prepare businesses and social institutions to cope in the event of an outbreak. Mr Abbott said he hoped all 21 member economies would agree to continue sharing samples of the latest circulating strains of the mutating H5N1 virus to ensure new vaccines work. This comes after Indonesia's five-month "freeze" on sharing in protest against the fact drug companies could develop vaccines that were too expensive for its population. Mr Abbott indicated he would agree to share an Australian-made vaccine with Indonesia and other neighbours once it became available. "That's what we did with anti-virals once we had a stockpile in this country and I don't see why we wouldn't operate on the same basis with vaccines," Mr Abbott told reporters before the meeting. The 12 ministers and nine senior delegates will present a declaration when the meeting concludes on Friday.