EMA outlines failings in European efforts to fight swine flu
Communications a key area for improvement, Agency admits
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has admitted to shortcomings in EU efforts to combat the 2009 H1N1 flu pandemic, with a review report citing communications as a key area for improvement.
It said the roles of various EU organisations, including itself, the European Commission, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, and national public health agencies ‘need to be clarified and clearly communicated’ to avoid clashes over responsibilities.
EMA also criticised its own press releases, question-and-answer and reference documents for being provided only in English, with the agency seeking to use additional languages to improve its information-sharing practices in future.
It also called for better co-ordination among health agencies with ‘common approaches, such as vaccination strategies and systems for data collection (number of vaccinated people, vaccine effectiveness, pregnancy registries and background incidence rates of diseases)’ in such epidemics in future.
It also wants better contingency planning with flexible responses to different pandemic scenarios, mechanisms speeding vaccine authorisation, with clinical trial standardisation, and implementing day-to-day evaluation of new data to maximise the use of available resources.
‘The 2009 (H1N1) influenza pandemic tested the preparedness plans previously put in place, and the Agency has learned from its activities,’ said EMA.
