Are people complacent over swine flu?

Swine flu

On Monday, the European Union warned against complacency over the spread of swine flu, urging people to get vaccinated even though the virus has not hit as hard as it was first feared.

"Even if the pandemic situation isn't so dramatic in Europe right now, we have to listen to the experts who say it's not time to lower our guard," said Swedish Public Health Minister Maria Larsson, whose country holds the EU presidency.

"The H1N1 virus hasn't hurt us as much as we thought, but I hope that people still want to have a vaccination," she told reporters, at an extraordinary EU meeting on the disease in Luxembourg.

On Friday, the World Health Organisation (WHO), said how at least 4525 people have died from swine flu infections since the virus was uncovered in April.

Most deaths occurred in the Americas region, where 3292 fatalities have been reported. Some 890 people have died from the infection in the Asia-Pacific region, while at least 193 fatal cases have been recorded in Europe.

EU Health Commissioner Androulla Vassiliou also warned that while it was up to individuals to decide whether they should get vaccinated, it was probably better to take precautions.

"We don't know how this virus will evolve with the change of weather," Larsson added. "So we have to be prepared for the worst while hoping the worst will not come."

In a statement after their talks, EU ministers urged the bloc's executive arm to continue their support in procurement processes for the vaccine for those member states, candidate countries, potential candidates and neighbouring countries who do not have a current agreement with manufacturers.

The commission, meanwhile, has cleared the way for European distribution of three vaccines to fight swine flu, amid fears of a second wave of the virus.

The move came after the London-based European Medicines Agency (EMEA) recommended on 2 October that the Celvapan vaccine, produced by US drugs firm Baxter, be used across the EU's 27 member nations.

European authorities have already fast-tracked approval of two other vaccines - Pandemrix from the British firm GlaxoSmithKline and Focetria from Swiss peer Novartis - amid mounting fears about the new winter influenza season.

EU Health Commissioner Vassilou said that all three manufacturers have said that a single dose would be enough to immunise someone against swine flu.

"Tomorrow, two of these companies, and in the next week a third one, will submit a proposal [to EMEA] that one dose is enough," she told reporters.

EMEA will consider the application from the first two manufacturers next week, Vassilou added.

Its recommendations must also be approved by the European Commission.

In Britain, which is the European nation worst hit by swine flu, vaccinations are expected to begin later this month.

Those who should be vaccinated against the virus are:

* Pregnant women
* People who live with or care for infants
* Healthcare and emergency medical services personnel
* People aged between six months and 24 years.

The main worry is that people are going to forget about swine flu, or believe that the vaccine hasn't been tested enough. If the vaccine wasn't safe, it wouldn't have been approved. It's been produced for a reason, and people should take the advice and have the vaccine.

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