The Federal Government updated its pandemic plan last week, and moved the country to a newly devised ‘protect’ phase in response to the relative mild ness of the swine flu virus.Pathology testing of all suspected cases is no longer required, and oseltamivir (Tamiflu) can only be dis tributed from the national stockpile to those most at risk of, or experiencing moderate to severe disease.The government’s contract for a pan demic vaccine from manufacturer CSL would be upheld, Federal Health Minis ter Ms Nicola Roxon said, but officials were yet to determine who should be initially targeted.“The key reason we are moving to this ‘protect’ phase is to make sure that our resources, both drug and health workforce, can be targeted...
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