Germany cuts GSK swine flu vaccine orders by 30%

The Germany Ministry of Health has cut its order for GlaxoSmithKline’s swine flu vaccine Pandemrix by 30%.

The pharma company is also in discussions with a number of other governments - some of who are altering their planned immunisation programmes.

The changes come after the second wave of swine flu proved to be more manageable and less severe than first feared and trials of the vaccines indicate one dose, rather than the two previously thought, may achieve a suitably strong immune response.

President of GSK Biologicals Jean Stephenne said: “Pandemics by their nature are unpredictable and we recognise that government’s needs are changing. We are committed to finding solutions for governments changing their immunisation programmes and to fulfilling recent new orders.”

European regulators approved GSK’s Pandmerix and Novartis’ swine flu vaccine Focetria in September and a third vaccine, Baxter’s Celvapan, shortly afterwards.

The latest advice from the World Health Organization makes it clear the H1N1 influenza virus is still active globally and vaccination programmes will continue.

GSK is donating 60 million doses of its vaccine to the WHO for use in developing countries with inadequate protection.