Deal is Close Over Swine Flu Jabs

Wed, 19 Aug 2009
It is anticipated that swine flue vaccinations are to commence this autumn. Doctors' leaders state that they are hopeful that an agreement can be reached rapidly in negotiations with the government regarding the swine flu vaccination programme .

Ministers disclosed plans recently to vaccinate 13 million plus in the first wave of the UK programme.

However, officials have been forced to admit that GPs have still not signed up to the deal.

The British Medical Association has requested for extra funds to administer the two-shot jab, which some campaigners have called ludicrous.

The government had thought that GPs would be on board by now.

Negotiations have laster longer than anticipated. Doctors are paid £7.51 for each seasonal flu vaccine and other jabs, like travel inoculations.

They do not expect that amount for what could result in a mass swine flu vaccination programme. However, they have stressed that they need extra funding for staffing and admin costs as well as any overtime they may have to do.

Under this proposed programme, those with health conditions, like heart disease and diabetes, those with weakened immune systems, pregnant women and frontline health and social care workers are going to be first to receive the jab.

This equates to 13 million plus people, approximately a fifth of the UK population.

It is as yet undecided whether or not the remaining population is going to be immunised, even though the government has ordered enough vaccine to do so.

There is still time left to broker a deal as the vaccination programme is not going to start until regulators have approved the vaccine which is not likely to happen until the end of September at the earliest.

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