#1Jul 12th, 2009
Britain has the third highest number of confirmed swine flu cases in the world (9,718 ) after Mexico (10,262) and the United States (33,902), and is the only country outside of the Americas to have swine flu fatalities - 15 of them.
But Britain also has the world's largest stockpile of vaccines, enough to vaccinate the entire population, which is almost 62 million.
Health Secretary Andy Burnham has warned that 100,000 people might catch the bug every day by the end of the month.
Health bosses to vaccinate entire UK population against swine flu
By --
12th July 2009
Daily Mail
A National Health Service (NHS) swine flu poster
Twenty million people will be vaccinated against swine flu by Christmas, with everyone receiving the jab by the middle of next year.
Experts are drawing up a priority list of patients to be given immunity before the bug becomes more virulent.
Those first in the queue are expected to be the elderly, infants under the age of five, people with asthma and diabetes, and those with compromised immune systems. NHS and social care workers would also get them first.
Roll-out: A scientist works on developing a swine flu vaccine at the National Institute for Medical Research (NIMR) laboratories in London. Health chiefs want to vaccinate the entire UK population
Ministers ordered 130 doses of the vaccine two months ago, in what would be the biggest vaccination programme of the last 50 years. The first batch is expected to be arrive by the end of next month.
On Friday, the first healthy person in Britain died after contracting the virus. Of the 15 people who have died of swine flu, all the others had underlying health problems before they succumbed.
Health secretary Andy Burnham has warned that 100,000 people might be contracting the bug every day by the end of next month.
Peter Holden, the British Medical Association's lead negotiator on swine flu, said: 'The high risk groups will be done at GPs' surgeries.
'People are still making decisions over this, but we want to get cracking before we get a second wave, which is traditionally far more virulent.'
He added: 'If the virus does mutate, it can get a lot more nasty, and the idea is to give people immunity. But the sheer logistics of dealing with 61 million people can't be underestimated.'
Warning: Health Secretary Andy Burnham (right) with Chief Medical Officer (for England) Sir Liam Donaldson, says that soon 100,000 could be catching swine flu every day
The first batch of vaccine is due at the end of August, with 60 million doses - enough for half the population - ready by the end of the year. Logistics mean around 20 million could have the jab by then.
But there would have to be rationing until the whole population could be vaccinated. That will not happen until the final jabs arrive in the middle of next year.
The latest swine flu-linked death happened at Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, NHS East of England.
England's Chief Medical Officer Sir Liam Donaldson warned today that other healthy people were at risk of dying from the disease.
He said: 'As with all flu-like viruses, some people are at higher risk than others.
Unfortunately, people who are otherwise healthy could also become seriously ill or, sadly, die.'
But Sir Liam added: 'Fortunately, this particular new virus isn't nearly as severe as it could have been. If it had, for example, come out of the bird flu variant it would have been producing much higher levels of mortality.'
Today holidaymakers were advised to check their travel insurance to ensure they will be able to get their money back should they come down with swine flu.
With school terms ending and summer breaks approaching, people who contract the virus should take the advice of their doctors about whether to stay at home, according to travel association Abta.
Abta spokeswoman Frances Tuke said: 'We have had calls about this with regard to insurance - apparently some insurers are placing exemptions on policies. If you need to cancel because of swine flu you need to check your travel insurance policy to ensure it is covered.'
Nearly 10,000 lab-confirmed cases of swine flu have come to light after the virus spread to the UK from Mexico.
The UK has the third highest case total in the world after Mexico, with 10,262, and the US, which has at least 33,902.
It emerged yesterday that more than a third of UK businesses have no response plans at all for dealing with the pandemic.
Civil servants were also told at a meeting that London Underground and the country's broadband network could fail of a serious outbreak occurred.
- The NHS advises anyone who thinks they might have flu to check their symptoms on -- or call the swine flu information line on 0800 1 513 513.
Last edited by Blackleaf; Jul 12th, 2009 at 11:01 AM..
