Enough Tamiflu for 158,400 persons

Social Policy Minister John Dalli has assured Parliament that the government has enough Tamiflu anti-influenza vaccine for 158,400 people, besides medicinals for children. The earliest expiry date of stocks is May 2010.

Answering a question by Nationalist MP Jean Pierre Farrugia, Minister Dalli said the Department of Health had purchased 1,104 million oseltamivir phosphate (Tamiflu) 75 mg capsules over 2005, 2006 and 2007. They had cost a total of €1.656 million and their expiry dates were May, June and July 2010 and June 2011.

The department was currently negotiating the purchase of 480,000 more capsules at a cost of €585,000, with a delivery period of between four and six weeks and an expiry date of April 2014.

In 2006 the department had also purchased 14 kilos of oseltamivir powder for use in mixing children's medicinal concoctions. The cost had been €107,799 and the expiry date was March 2011.

Minister Dalli said with a normal course of Tamiflu capsules being calculated at 10 per person, there were enough supplies for 158,400 people, besides the powder for children.