VACCINE USAGE DECLINES EVEN WITH MASSIVE PROMOTION

World Affairs Brief December 18, 2009

Commentary and Insights on a Troubled World.

Reuters reported that "Germany plans to sell more than two million H1N1 vaccinations abroad due to weak domestic demand, the country's health ministry said on Tuesday. Only about five percent of the public has been vaccinated, according to Health Minister Philip Roesler. Only about 15 percent of medical professionals in Germany have been vaccinated. Regional states in Germany started the vaccination program on October 26. Swine flu deaths so far stand at 86 in Germany." And, most of those had other health issues--hardly an epidemic.