Countries Increase Stockpiles of Tamiflu

October 12, 2005 -- As concerns about an avian flu pandemic spread, countries are rushing to buy the influenza drug Tamiflu. The United States may have to wait to increase its stockpile of the drug because Roche, Tamiflu’s maker, already has enough orders to exhaust its production capacity this year and next.

Introduced in 1999, Tamiflu is one of the only medicines proven in clinical trials to reduce the duration and severity of avian flu if taken within 48 hours of infection. It can also be used as a vaccine. Currently, the U.S. will have enough doses for 2 percent of the population by 2006. Many European countries have ordered enough to treat 20 percent to 40 percent of their populations. Currently, President Bush is meeting with vaccine manufacturers.

The Institute of Medicine report, Financing Vaccines in the 21st Century: Assuring Access and Availability, examines the public-private partnership that is the foundation for purchasing and distributing vaccines in America. The report highlights shortcomings in the current vaccine purchasing system and recommends new strategies to assure access to vaccinations and to sustain the supply of current and future vaccines. Calling the Shots reviews the scope and nature of U.S. investments in critical public health functions associated with immunization and calls attention to areas of need in public health and health insurance in light of changing U.S. demographics, development of new vaccines, and other factors.

Read more about the Avian Flu and 1918 pandemic.

• Financing Vaccines in the 21st Century: Assuring Access and Availability (2003)
• Calling the Shots: Immunization Finance Policies and Practices (2000)

• Food and Drug Administration Tamiflu Information Page
• World Health Organization Avian Flu Information Page
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention