This time ... let's alarm them about the Flu Vaccine ... we've already hinted there is a 'second wave' coming ... let's scare 'em further ... then sit back and wait for 'something must be done, something must be done.'
Daily Mail Headline "Tamiflu might not work against swine flu, Government's own scientists warn" ... Swine flu could soon become resistant to Tamiflu, the drug being stockpiled to fight it, say Government scientists. A strain of seasonal flu closely related to the swine virus has already mutated so that Tamiflu is virtually useless against it. But the Government is spending more than 100million to bring Britain’s stockpile of Tamiflu up to 50million doses – enough for 80 per cent of the population. Dr Steve Gamblin, the joint head of molecular structure at the National Institute for Medical Research, told The Mail on Sunday that the mutation renders Tamiflu about 250 times less effective than it should be. ‘Our research suggests that if Tamiflu is used extensively, mutant swine flu viruses that are resistant to the drug may well arise,’ said Dr Gamblin. ‘Instead of relying on Tamiflu alone, it would be better to use a cocktail of Tamiflu and Relenza,’ – another anti-viral drug to which, so far, flu viruses have not developed resistance.
However, the Government has stockpiled only about ten million doses of Relenza and it is more difficult to take. While Tamiflu can be swallowed as a pill at home, Relenza is a powder that must be administered with an inhaler, normally under medical supervision.
The NIMR in Mill Hill, North London, is one of four World Health Organisation centres spearheading research into developing a swine flu vaccine. But a Health Department spokesman admitted that this is unlikely to be available in large quantities until the end of December. If swine flu starts to spread rapidly during the autumn, Tamiflu and Relenza will be the only lines of defence.
