FROM THE JOBBING DR WEBSITE
Monday, 13 July 2009
We all love Tamiflu
http://thejobbingdoctor.blogspot.com/
Jobbing Doctor was talking to a colleague yesterday at a social event. We were
sharing experiences about the current Pig flu epidemic, and the behaviour of our
leaders in the profession. His assessment was not very charitable (I actually
think that 'Sir' Liam Donaldson hasn't done too badly).
We then mused on whether we would take Tamiflu or not. Our general view is that
it has such a marginal effect that it is not worth it.
He then told me why the Government were very keen for us to prescribe it to
everyone who has a sniffle and a high temperature: you see, most of the
stockpiled Tamiflu was for a previous flu scare, and it expires (passes its
sell-by date) in the early part of this Autumn (2009) when it effectively and
officially becomes useless (as opposed to being pretty useless anyway).
This is why they are peddling it.
Explains a lot, doesn't it!
Posted by Jobbing Doctor at 14:09
6 comments:
Sage said...
I get the feeling that poor Joe Public is much like the Poor Bloody Infantry...
only in our case most of us would have to pay for a subscription at over £7.00
per item for something that isn't worth the effort... Dear Gods Carruthers does
this government think we will take this crap forever before we rebel?
13 July 2009 15:42
Anonymous said...
The box in our house (due to one person's underlying health problem) has a use
by date of Sep 2010. But at least prescription charges aren't an issue, it was
handed out free.
I can't see it's doing much actual good though, certainly didn't stop me from
catching the damn thing.
13 July 2009 16:02
Anonymous said...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8148162.stm
13 July 2009 17:23
Anonymous said...
Someone in government should declare any COI [Conflicts of Interest] over
Tamiflu and Vaccination.
13 July 2009 17:30
:: CCB's Knit-Knacks :: said...
A friend of mine had suspected swine flu, so was told she MUST get some Tamiflu,
it is available in any chemists... she ended up paying out for a taxi to pick it
up from the town hall for her (only place in the whole of town that had any) and
paying for the prescription... Took it and it made her feel worse! She got
better without it and feels fine now. I'm worried about the vaccine coming in as
well now... pharm-companies making a nice profit from this one?
13 July 2009 19:34
Prisoner of Hope said...
50% of children given their anti viral (not sure if it was Tamiflu or Relenza)
at a local school stopped taking it before they had finished the
course.....mainly due to vomiting. One child was admitted via A&E with severe
vomitting after starting Tamiflu.
The "compliant" half however were still only 50% of the 50% who started - half
who were given it didnot even start! Not sure if they were well informed or if
this just represents the underlying rate of non compliance or "pig ignorance"
At a local Joint Pharmacy Planning Group last week when asked if I would take it
- were it to be offered - I said I would decline on moral grounds - as I would
not not want to let Dick Cheney profit any more from yet another hoodwinking of
the panicked masses.