Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)

The influenza pandemic expert group is reviewing and updating Ireland's 2002 influenza pandemic preparedness plan. Once finalised, the updated plan will be published. The 2002 plan was based on the World Health Organisation, or WHO, blueprint for an influenza pandemic plan, published in 1999. It addresses a range of issues, including prevention strategies, scientific and medical issues, and communications. The WHO plan is currently being updated to incorporate new scientific data and experience obtained during recent outbreaks. Our pandemic plan will be modified in line with those recommendations once they are agreed and published by the World Health Organisation.

Vaccination is the principal measure for preventing influenza and reducing the impact of epidemics. It will be the primary public health intervention in the event of an influenza pandemic. However, the production of a vaccine tailored to a pandemic influenza strain could take six to nine months. Developments are under way at international level seeking to expedite that process.

Pending the availability of virus-specific vaccines, anti-viral drugs will be the only influenza-specific medical intervention available for use in the event of a pandemic. Anti-virals can be used for prevention and treatment. The Government has decided that anti-viral drugs should be stockpiled. The expert group reviewed recommendations for the use of anti-virals in line with best international practice at its meeting on 24 February 2005. Following consideration of the expert group's advice, I have directed that 1 million treatment packs of Tamiflu should be stockpiled. That quantity is sufficient to treat 25% of the population and is in line with best international practice. The Health Service Executive has been so advised, and procurement arrangements have been put in train. I am confident that 600,000 packs will have been delivered by the end of this year — sufficient to treat 15% of the population. The remaining 400,000 packs will be delivered in 2006.

A national anti-viral stockpile would be used to treat priority groups. Prioritisation is essential if morbidity and mortality are to be reduced and essential services are to be maintained, thereby minimising as far as possible the disruption to society that might result from a pandemic. The priority groups include, for example, individuals hospitalised with influenza, people who may be more vulnerable to the virus, and key workers in essential services.

It should be noted, however, that pandemic planning is a dynamic process, and the definition of risk is likely to change over time. That means the recommendations for use of anti-virals must be kept under review and expert opinion always sought. In particular, the expert group will need to review the epidemiological data before final recommendations are decided in the setting of an imminent pandemic. The decision-making process will be guided at all times by relevant expert advice from the European Commission and the World Health Organisation.

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