The final edition of today's Belfast Telegraph leads with a story on £7.5m that has apparently been 'wasted' on swine flu vaccines. According to Stormont health committee member and DUP MLA Alex Easton:
"...the swine flue episode has been overplayed by WHO and I think unfortunately we have been left in a situation of having spent millions of pounds on Tamiflu vaccinations that we may never need."
Correct me if I'm wrong but isn't Tamiflu an antiviral 'drug' used to treat normal seasonal flu and other common viruses? And aren't vaccines about protecting us against these nasty viruses?
It would be helpful if our legislators, especially those charged with keeping an eye on our local health service, did their homework before issuing statements to the media.
But why let the facts get in the way of a good story. Yes, according to the Belfast Telegraph, the Tamiflu drug may have contributed to the "10% increase in fourth quarter net profits" of Sanofi-Aventis. But the drugs company does NOT produce a "key component of swine flu" nor is Tamiflu a vaccine.
Maybe the Belfast Telegraph should get its facts right and have its subs pay a little more attention before printing such nonsense on its front page.
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