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EU health ministers to attend extra Council meeting on new influenza
CPME publication date: Thursday, October 8, 2009The Swedish Presidency has called an extra meeting of EU health ministers on 12 October on the new influenza (H1N1). The meeting, which is to take place in Luxembourg, will be chaired by Swedish Minister for Elderly Care and Public Health Maria Larsson.
The extra Council meeting with the health ministers will be entirely devoted to the new influenza (H1N1). The meeting will open with the Commission presenting its communication from 15 September: "Pandemic influenza (H1N1) 2009". After this, ministers are expected to discuss the communication and exchange experiences of the influenza in the Member States. The Swedish Presidency has prepared three questions to the ministers as a basis for the discussion. The questions will address the following aspects:
- How EU cooperation can be improved further when it comes to public information on the influenza
- How the EU can help developing countries meet the challenges brought by the new influenza
- How to improve preparedness on an EU level to maintain important public services
The Council is also expected to adopt conclusions on the influenza. The conclusions will cover the following issues:
- Access to vaccine: The need to support the Member States that do not have sufficient quantities of vaccine
- Vaccination strategy: Groups prioritised for vaccination
- Approval process for vaccine: The importance of a quick approval process for a vaccine
- Public information: EU cooperation to convey important messages on the influenza to the general public
- Global cooperation: Support for developing countries in particular
- Multi-sector emergency preparedness: Preparedness to maintain important public services
[Source: Swedish Presidency website, http://www.se2009.eu/en/meetings_news/2009/10/8/eu_health_ministers_to_attend_extra_council_meeting_on_new_influenza?localLinksEnabled=false]
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