Vaccine makers did not hype H1N1, says EVM
The EVM group, representing Baxter, Crucell, GlaxoSmithKline, MedImmune, Novartis, Sanofi, MSD, Solvay and Wyeth, rejected the allegations made in the “Faked pandemics – a threat for health” motion put before the Council of Europe (CoE).
It said that: “The assertions in this motion are unfounded and result from a misunderstanding of the pandemic planning process and collaboration between public and private health partner.”
The group, which is part of the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industry Associations (EFPIA), also confirmed it will attend a CoE hearing on January 26 to address the matter further.
WHO: H1N1 pandemic is real
In a separate statement issued also on January 14, World Health Organisation (WHO) special adviser on pandemic influenza Keiji Fukuda rejected any allegations of undue drug industry influence in the build up to the pandemic.
Dr Fukuda said the organisation has had “safeguards against potential conflicts of interest” in place since well before the pandemic began."
He also cited WHO Director General Margaret Chen’s June 11 prediction that the pandemic would be of “moderate severity” as evidence that the organisation had not overhyped the pandemic.
Fukuda concluded by reiterating that “the world is going through a real pandemic,” adding that “the description of it as fake is both wrong and irresponsible.”
The WHO, which has also been asked to attend the CoH meeting on January 26, is according to Fukuda “trying to find out the particulars of the invitation actually means.”
