Now that the disease has petered out ahead of schedule, however, countries are stuck with millions of unused doses. French and German governments have had to cancel millions of orders of the vaccines due to falling demand and late-breaking news that European health authorities had recommended twice the necessary dosage. The CDC has dealt with the glut in another way. It now says all Americans should go and get the shot, a shift from its earlier recommendation that at-risk groups such as the young, sick, pregnant, and nurses seek injections first. But why should everyone get a shot when that the disease appears to be over?
On January 22, WHO issued a statement calling allegations that it irresponsibly stoked H1N1 fears, "scientifically wrong and historically incorrect." The statement defends figures WHO publicized on transmission rates, mortality, and the virulence of swine flu.
"The world is going through a real pandemic. The description of it as a fake is wrong and irresponsible. We welcome any legitimate review process that can improve our work."
Previously, WHO had offered scant response to allegations of corruption, but deigned to defend itself after the Council of Europe meeting was announced. At the hearing, WHO's flu director, Dr Keiji Fukuda, denied the accusations against WHO.
"Let me state clearly for the record the influenza pandemic policies and responses recommended and taken by WHO were not improperly influenced by the pharmaceutical industry."
The public meeting to examine accusations against WHO was set up by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), which represents 800 million people in 47 countries. Established by various European nations in 1949 to promote human rights and the democratic rule of law, the Council's January 26 meeting involved WHO officials, European drug-makers, and medical experts. PACE's findings are expected to be announced January 29 and will likely be followed by an in-depth study and recommendations to European governments.
The PACE hearing is the latest in of a series of investigations into WHO's propriety, which also includes a 2009 Danish Parliamentary inspection of links between WHO expert Albert Osterhaus and makers of the swine flu drugs. Russian lawmaker Igor Barinov has also started an inquiry into WHO's ties to H1N1 drug makers.
Similar critiques have been leveled at domestic health authorities as well, which generally took their cues on how to deal with swine flu from WHO.
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