| Series Title | European Voice |
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| Series Details | Vol.9, No.28, 24.7.03, p16 |
| Publication Date | 24/07/2003 |
| Content Type | News |
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Date:24/07/03 NOBODY likes to think about it, but it is a real cause for concern: how would we best cope in a biological or chemical terror attack that requires a rapid and coordinated response to save as many lives as possible? The European Commission last month produced a 38-page communication on this crucial health security issue. Although the EU has yet to be hit by anything like the anthrax scare that plagued the US in autumn 2001, the report details what can be done in the event of similar attacks on EU soil, exploring emergency plans and the availability and stockpiling of medicines, so far overseen only at national level. The Commission does entertain the thought of creating an EU-wide stockpile of vaccines, but cites budgetary as well as logistical concerns in buying and maintaining a stockpile against a low probability event such as a bioterrorist attack. Moreover, the report concludes that an alternative to a distinct EU-wide stockpile could be a virtual one run by the Commission and made up of proportions of national stockpiles to be pledged by member states. Some health experts, however, say the EU should take more of a lead in coordinating such a system. "I am really shocked," a vaccines expert working for the European Vaccine Manufacturers told European Voice. "There must be coordination on the part of the EU," she cautioned. "Otherwise, there may not be enough in the stockpiles [to treat everybody]." On 2 June 2003 the European Commission adopted a Communication on a strategy to deal with a bioterrorist attack. |
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| Subject Categories | Health, Justice and Home Affairs, Security and Defence |
