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Japan Might Cancel Some H1N1 Flu Vaccine Imports
TOKYO, Jan. 26 (Kyodo) ? The government is considering canceling some of its H1N1 flu vaccine purchase contracts with foreign pharmaceutical companies amid the prospect of a surplus in vaccines against the new flu virus, health minister Akira Nagatsuma said Monday.
"We are now negotiating with the two (foreign) companies because it is likely that there would be more vaccines than necessary," Nagatsuma said at a lower house committee to discuss health and welfare issues.
"It is important to have stockpiles of vaccines. But still, we are expecting a surplus in imported vaccines," he said.
The government has signed deals with Britain's GlaxoSmithKline plc and Novartis AG of Switzerland for a combined 99 million doses.
Nagatsuma's remarks came as speculation is growing that there will be an oversupply of vaccines if all of the contracted amounts are imported.
Coupled with domestically produced vaccines, medical experts say, the amount of imports means that an oversupply is highly likely --beyond the vaccination demand for all Japanese people.
Nagatsuma had earlier indicated that Japan might cancel part of the purchase contracts, pointing out similar moves in European and other countries, with the degree of new-flu outbreaks abating.
TOKYO, Jan. 26 (Kyodo) ? The government is considering canceling some of its H1N1 flu vaccine purchase contracts with foreign pharmaceutical companies amid the prospect of a surplus in vaccines against the new flu virus, health minister Akira Nagatsuma said Monday.
"We are now negotiating with the two (foreign) companies because it is likely that there would be more vaccines than necessary," Nagatsuma said at a lower house committee to discuss health and welfare issues.
"It is important to have stockpiles of vaccines. But still, we are expecting a surplus in imported vaccines," he said.
The government has signed deals with Britain's GlaxoSmithKline plc and Novartis AG of Switzerland for a combined 99 million doses.
Nagatsuma's remarks came as speculation is growing that there will be an oversupply of vaccines if all of the contracted amounts are imported.
Coupled with domestically produced vaccines, medical experts say, the amount of imports means that an oversupply is highly likely --beyond the vaccination demand for all Japanese people.
Nagatsuma had earlier indicated that Japan might cancel part of the purchase contracts, pointing out similar moves in European and other countries, with the degree of new-flu outbreaks abating.
