Prime Minister Donald Tusk claims that Poland has bought into the global hysteria around the swine flu virus.
“Traditional forms of the flu are more harmful than this modern flu virus,” stated Tusk Friday, adding that the hysteria surrounding swine flu is compounded by international pressure to force governments to purchase large amounts of vaccines.
The Prime Minister added that the Polish government is more concerned with assuring supplies of the antiviral drug Tamiflu.
“Our reserve stock of Tamiflu, at least for this season, might not be enough, but there is enough supply of the drug to treat 2 million people,” stated Tusk. “That is a lot for Poland,” added the PM, saying that the reserve supply is crucial in the event of a flu epidemic.
Tusk, speaking to press at the lower house of parliament, added that he supports Health Minister Ewa Kopacz’s decision to delay the purchase of swine flu vaccines until thorough research has been completed.
“I am convinced that the Health Ministry has made a rational, common sense decision. It is too easy to just push a button and spend several million euro to purchase a drug for a less threatening flu while there are other, more pressing dangers,” stated Tusk, referring to the seasonal flu.
Meanwhile, Martin Harvey Allchurch, spokesperson from the European Medicines Agency (EMA), claims that he does not understand the stance taken by Poland’s Health Ministry. Allchurch says that the anti-swine flu vaccine is safe and urged that it be introduced in Poland without delay.
The National Health Institute announced Wednesday that over 10,000 people in Poland currently have seasonal influenza, about twice as many as this time in 2008. (mmj)
Related stories: Swine flu jab is safe, says European agency. thenews.pl. 06 November 2009.