QUEENSLAND GOVERNMENT OPENS FLU DRUG STOCKPILE
Published Monday, 13 August, 2007 at 01:11 PM
Premier and Minister for Trade
The Honourable Peter Beattie
Premier Peter Beattie said today the Queensland Government would make its stockpile of the flu treatment drug Tamiflu available to the public to ensure every Queenslander who needed the drug gets it.
Mr Beattie said Queenslanders were experiencing the worst flu season in six years and should not treat the matter lightly.
“The Chief Health Officer Dr Jeanette Young is becoming increasingly concerned about the growing seriousness of the flu outbreak in Queensland,” Mr Beattie said.
“It is now too late for people who have not had the flu vaccine to be protected by it.
“The fact that otherwise healthy young people are now dying from the flu is of serious concern.
“I am concerned; as is the Chief Health Officer, by reports that people ill with the flu are experiencing difficulty in having prescriptions for Tamiflu filled in Queensland.
“That’s why we are taking the extraordinary step of opening up our stockpile to make it available to Queensland families via the public hospital system as needed.
“The Chief Health Officer has already provided Tamiflu from the government stockpile to residents of an aged home in Brisbane’s Western Suburbs.
“I will be calling the Prime Minister today to request that he follows our lead and moves immediately to provide stocks from the national stockpile of Tamiflu to residents of aged homes.
“This will greatly ease the pressure on Queensland’s stockpile and leave us free to provide the drug to families in need until the commercial supply chain can catch up.
The Premier said he understood there were more than adequate commercial supplies of the drug and that pharmacies should be able to access the drug as needed in coming days.
“There is no cause for panic but all of us have a responsibility to take precautions during this flu season.
“That means simple things like staying home when you have any flu like symptoms.
“I am hopeful that we will be in a position to provide drugs from the government stockpile today to our public hospitals and to aged care facilities.
“In the meantime I would urge every Queenslander to take the flu seriously.
“If any member of your household is showing serious symptoms of the flu they should see a general practitioner immediately. This includes fever, shortness of breath while at rest and difficulty in being roused.
“If serious symptoms are shown it is important to see a doctor as Tamiflu is only effective if given within the first 48 hours of infection.
Mr Beattie said the Chief Health Officer had informed him that it was now too late for the flu vaccine to offer protection to people as it takes two weeks to provide immunity, by that time the flu season should have come to an end.
The Queensland Government stockpile holds some 40,000 courses of Tamiflu, which will enable thousands of Queensland families to access the drug immediately.
Queensland Health provided Tamiflu from its stockpile to about 80 Brisbane nursing home residents and 80 staff following two confirmed influenza cases and 10 others suffering flu-like symptoms on the weekend.
Tamiflu is an anti-viral medication that is used specifically to treat and prevent influenza infection.
Queensland Health does not recommend it as a standard response, but in special situations it is administered to those who are at higher risk of contracting the virus.
The Chief Health Officer will provide an update on the situation mid-afternoon today.
People can access tips on how to stay healthy this flu season from the Queensland Health website at www.health.qld.gov.au.
Monday August 13, 2007
For more information: Premier’s Office – 3224 4500
Mr Beattie said Queenslanders were experiencing the worst flu season in six years and should not treat the matter lightly.
“The Chief Health Officer Dr Jeanette Young is becoming increasingly concerned about the growing seriousness of the flu outbreak in Queensland,” Mr Beattie said.
“It is now too late for people who have not had the flu vaccine to be protected by it.
“The fact that otherwise healthy young people are now dying from the flu is of serious concern.
“I am concerned; as is the Chief Health Officer, by reports that people ill with the flu are experiencing difficulty in having prescriptions for Tamiflu filled in Queensland.
“That’s why we are taking the extraordinary step of opening up our stockpile to make it available to Queensland families via the public hospital system as needed.
“The Chief Health Officer has already provided Tamiflu from the government stockpile to residents of an aged home in Brisbane’s Western Suburbs.
“I will be calling the Prime Minister today to request that he follows our lead and moves immediately to provide stocks from the national stockpile of Tamiflu to residents of aged homes.
“This will greatly ease the pressure on Queensland’s stockpile and leave us free to provide the drug to families in need until the commercial supply chain can catch up.
The Premier said he understood there were more than adequate commercial supplies of the drug and that pharmacies should be able to access the drug as needed in coming days.
“There is no cause for panic but all of us have a responsibility to take precautions during this flu season.
“That means simple things like staying home when you have any flu like symptoms.
“I am hopeful that we will be in a position to provide drugs from the government stockpile today to our public hospitals and to aged care facilities.
“In the meantime I would urge every Queenslander to take the flu seriously.
“If any member of your household is showing serious symptoms of the flu they should see a general practitioner immediately. This includes fever, shortness of breath while at rest and difficulty in being roused.
“If serious symptoms are shown it is important to see a doctor as Tamiflu is only effective if given within the first 48 hours of infection.
Mr Beattie said the Chief Health Officer had informed him that it was now too late for the flu vaccine to offer protection to people as it takes two weeks to provide immunity, by that time the flu season should have come to an end.
The Queensland Government stockpile holds some 40,000 courses of Tamiflu, which will enable thousands of Queensland families to access the drug immediately.
Queensland Health provided Tamiflu from its stockpile to about 80 Brisbane nursing home residents and 80 staff following two confirmed influenza cases and 10 others suffering flu-like symptoms on the weekend.
Tamiflu is an anti-viral medication that is used specifically to treat and prevent influenza infection.
Queensland Health does not recommend it as a standard response, but in special situations it is administered to those who are at higher risk of contracting the virus.
The Chief Health Officer will provide an update on the situation mid-afternoon today.
People can access tips on how to stay healthy this flu season from the Queensland Health website at www.health.qld.gov.au.
Monday August 13, 2007
For more information: Premier’s Office – 3224 4500