Perplexity, therefore, about the real opportunity and effectiveness of mass vaccination plans. But not only. Something else is hidden behind what the expert defines as a "race". Huge economic interests are hidden, he says. And Garattini also says it clearly: "At the moment there is certainly great pressure from the industries, which will draw many economic resources from this race". An opinion out of the box, that of the director of the Mario Negri Institute for Pharmacological Research in Milan, which also invites further reflection: the focus is all on the new flu and "they forget – he denounces – the other health tragedies in act" such as AIDS and malaria.
– THERE IS ALARMISM, THIS IS A MILD VIRUS – The A/H1N1 virus, explained Garattini already in recent weeks, "has a mild virulence. We need to inform, but the danger – he claims – is for those who come from the affected". As for antiviral drugs to be used in case of infection, such as Tamiflu, Garattini notes that "in reality, the drug's activity is low. In normal flu, one sick day out of five or six is saved. However - he warns - there are side effects. It's not like you get a big deal taking it."
– IF THE VIRUS DOES NOT CHANGE, MASS VACCINATION IS NOT USED – If the A/H1N1 virus maintains its current level of virulence with the low clinical aggressiveness recorded so far, "there is no need to vaccinate the entire population" but, says the expert , "it would rather be advisable to evaluate the hypothesis of vaccinating only health workers".
– THE SHADOW OF THE COMPANIES' INTERESTS – "Certainly – said Garattini – there is great pressure from the industry, which will draw many economic resources from it". In fact, "only in a few months it will be possible to see whether this quantity of vaccine in production is really necessary or not. But if the virus remains what it is at the moment, then there will be no need for mass vaccinations".
– EVEN IF MUTASSE VIRUS IS NOT SAID A VACCINE FUNCTIONS – If instead the virus were to mutate, Garattini warned, "it is not certain that the vaccine in production will be able to protect". Therefore, "realistically – he commented – what should be done right now is to try to reduce the chances of infection, by controlling borders and inviting people to avoid risky and crowded places and to adopt strict hygiene measures".
– REAL TRAGEDY IS FORGOTTEN – The point, he warns, "is that attention is only being focused on the new flu, forgetting the other health emergencies underway, starting with AIDS". At the moment, Garattini concluded, "we are not facing a real danger and the number of A/H1N1 virus infections in the world, although growing, still remains lower than the rela
