21 December 2009 | Jake Kanter
Germany and Spain are reportedly in talks with swine flu vaccine suppliers to reduce deliveries.
Government officials from both countries have met pharmaceutical vendors with a view to cutting back orders and potentially returning excess supplies as a result of low uptake.
The number of reported swine flu cases has fallen across Western Europe and earlier this month the World Health Organization said “influenza-like activity has peaked or passed its peak” in the region.
Reuters reported that German states have been in talks with suppliers without any resolution as yet. In addition, the government is looking to open talks with other countries interested in taking on excess supplies.
Meanwhile, Spain’s health minister Trinidad Jiménez has also held discussions with pharmaceutical vendors. “The contracts signed with the companies from which we acquired the vaccines included clauses which allow the return of unused vaccines to the companies so they can be distributed to other countries,” she told news service APM Health Europe.
Analysts at Morgan Stanley predict that a fall in demand for the vaccines could impact profits at suppliers such as GlaxoSmithKline.
