Spain will participate in the next European purchase of vaccines against avian flu

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Madrid – Spain will enter the next joint purchase negotiated by the European Commission for the acquisition of vaccines against the H5N1 avian flu virus, after the country decided not to join the community purchase announced last June.

This was indicated by sources from the Spanish Ministry of Health, who noted that this European call “has not yet been convened,” so, while this is happening, health officials are holding conversations with the pharmaceutical company responsible for vaccine production “in case an additional acquisition is necessary.”

This announcement comes after the United States confirmed the first death of a patient infected with the virus, in the State of Louisiana.

However, the World Health Organization (WHO) has pointed out that the risk of transmission of avian flu to the general population “remains low,” but joint prevention work must continue because “the risk has always been there.”

The European Commission announced last June a contract for the initial purchase of 665,000 doses of Seqirus vaccine against the H5N1 avian flu virus under the community joint purchase mechanism. Fifteen countries joined it, among which Spain was not included.

At that time, the Health Commissioner, Stella Kyriakides, emphasized that the threat of the virus to the general population was “low,” but that people at higher risk, such as farm workers and some veterinarians, should be protected.

Thus, she specified that the purchase aimed to “offer additional capacity” to national authorities. (January 8)

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