Letters to the Editor

Wednesday, 23rd November 2005

Government Must Take Responsibility for Flu Vaccine Failure

SIR-

The secretary of state for health Patricia Hewitt has stated that there is a shortage of of winter flu vaccines

Nearly all the 14m doses of the flu vaccine originally ordered locally have been used, as have 400,000 in emergency supplies held by the Department of Health. Health officials believe that panic in the wake of the avian flu scare led to the "worried well" depleting stocks. Doctors have now been told to give the jabs only to people over 65 or with chronic conditions.

The government should have made sure there were enough emergency supplies and monitored take up of the vaccine through the autumn. They have failed on both counts.
 

The Government's response is simply not good enough. Promising extra supplies in January will leave frail elderly people at risk over the next two months. Winter flu kills over 10,000 people a year. Gaps in coverage among vulnerable groups could be a matter of life or death.

It is always the same story. When things go well the Health Secretary claims the credit. When they go wrong she blames the local health service. It is time Ministers took responsibility when problems occur within the NHS.
 

ENDS

  Stephanie Dearden

Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Tooting

Notes to editors

1. More: http://www.guardian.co.uk/birdflu/story/0,14207,1647972,00.html 
2. If you would like to arrange an interview with Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Tooting Stephanie Dearden then please call 020-7771-2551 or 07985-649807 or 07754 583090
3. Official photographs here http://www.stephaniedearden.org/smd_mugs/index.htm