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| Plans to secure swine flu vaccine | |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Scotland hopes to stockpile enough supplies of any new swine flu vaccine to protect the entire population. | Scotland hopes to stockpile enough supplies of any new swine flu vaccine to protect the entire population. |
| Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon made the announcement when she updated MSPs on the Scottish Government's efforts to combat the virus. | Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon made the announcement when she updated MSPs on the Scottish Government's efforts to combat the virus. |
| Ms Sturgeon said scientists had successfully identified the genetic fingerprint of the European strain of swine flu. | Ms Sturgeon said scientists had successfully identified the genetic fingerprint of the European strain of swine flu. |
| This was a "crucial first step" in creating a vaccine, she said. | This was a "crucial first step" in creating a vaccine, she said. |
| Ms Sturgeon told Holyrood that she and her counterparts in England, Wales and Northern Ireland aimed to secure enough supplies to allow vaccination of the entire UK population against swine flu. | |
| The UK already has advance supply contracts in place for a pandemic vaccine, but this could only be triggered in certain circumstances - like the World Health Organisation declaring Phase 6 of a pandemic. | The UK already has advance supply contracts in place for a pandemic vaccine, but this could only be triggered in certain circumstances - like the World Health Organisation declaring Phase 6 of a pandemic. |
| "Obviously we do not know when or if these triggers will be reached," Ms Sturgeon said. | "Obviously we do not know when or if these triggers will be reached," Ms Sturgeon said. |
| I have decided, in discussion with the health ministers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, to secure and purchase early supplies of vaccine Nicola SturgeonHealth secretary | I have decided, in discussion with the health ministers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, to secure and purchase early supplies of vaccine Nicola SturgeonHealth secretary |
| "We do know that if we simply wait until then we risk losing the capacity manufacturers have available now which would allow us to build up a stockpile and get a vaccination programme under way before the winter. | "We do know that if we simply wait until then we risk losing the capacity manufacturers have available now which would allow us to build up a stockpile and get a vaccination programme under way before the winter. |
| "I can therefore advise parliament that I have decided, in discussion with the health ministers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, to secure and purchase early supplies of vaccine." | "I can therefore advise parliament that I have decided, in discussion with the health ministers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, to secure and purchase early supplies of vaccine." |
| She added that negotiations were ongoing with manufacturers, that it was hoped a contract and delivery schedule would be agreed very soon. | She added that negotiations were ongoing with manufacturers, that it was hoped a contract and delivery schedule would be agreed very soon. |
| Northern Ireland confirmed its first swine flu case on Thursday, bringing the UK total to 72, including five in Scotland. | |
| A further four people in Greenock, including a five-year-old boy and three-year-old nursery pupil, are being treated as "probable" cases. | A further four people in Greenock, including a five-year-old boy and three-year-old nursery pupil, are being treated as "probable" cases. |