Is Medication Available to Prevent or Treat Pandemic Influenza?
Will Vaccine against Pandemic Influenza Be Available?
Vaccines are virus-specific, so pandemic vaccines cannot be produced until the specific pandemic virus has been identified. The time lapse between virus recognition and production is likely to be at least several months, largely because of technical issues around vaccine production. MoH is working to make sure New Zealand gets access as quickly as possible to a vaccine once it is developed and available.
Given that the first supplies of vaccine against a novel strain of influenza are unlikely to be available quickly, it is possible that New Zealand would have suffered at least one pandemic wave before a vaccination campaign can provide population immunity.
Will Anti-Viral Medications Be Available to Prevent or Cure Pandemic Influenza?
Many complications from influenza are due to secondary infection. Antibiotics are the preferred treatment for secondary infections, although they are ineffective in the treatment of the viral influenza itself.
Anti-viral medication can shorten the course of infection, if given early. They can also provide short-term protection against influenza. Several anti-virals have specific activity against the influenza virus, but only one of these (Tamiflu) is thought to be suitable for widespread general use in a pandemic situation.
It is not known if Tamiflu will be effective against a pandemic strain virus as its use in a pandemic situation is untested. The impact of Tamiflu in aiding pandemic management measures cannot be known until a pandemic occurs and epidemiological evidence is available.
MoH is stockpiling sufficient Tamiflu to treat 21% of the population, for use if a pandemic occurs. Careful prioritisation of its usage is essential, and exact priorities cannot be identified until the pandemic strain is identified and its epidemiology understood (e.g. which age groups in the population are likely to be the worst affected). Current draft policy envisages that Tamiflu will be used intensively in the early stages as part of a number of initiatives for control of small clusters of illness. If and when the pandemic affects many areas of New Zealand, its usage will be reserved for treatment, and further prioritisation may be required (e.g. for cases at higher risk of complications or death).
Further information and updates about Tamiflu may be found at Pandemic Influenza .
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