Belgium prepares itself for a potential global flu epidemic

The Council of Ministers on Friday decided that Belgium would participate in a European public contract to procure enough vaccine for the population in case of a global flu epidemic, said Health Minister Maggie De Block.

Belgium will sign a European framework agreement with two vaccine manufacturers. These must ensure the timely availability and distribution of pandemic flu vaccines in the event of an outbreak.

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Mom caught the flu so I went and checked on her(checked temperature, made tea, sat and talked for a bit) today when I picked up my preventative Tamiflu. As you can tell, I’m not taking any chances! #flu #mask #germsaregross #knockonwood #getbettersoonmom #hereshopingitworks

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« With this contract, we can put up to six million doses of vaccine at a given time » said Minister De Block. Two million euros a year will be released.

Pandemic flu is not the classic seasonal flu. A pandemic influenza is an unplanned influenza epidemic that affects the world, such as the A / H1N1 flu in 2009, better known as the « Mexican flu ».

Making a vaccine stock makes no sense because no one knows in advance what the biological characteristics of the pandemic virus will be, the minister explained.