The Senator says that protecting the whole population would cost a total of £4 million and that an alternative plan to protect only key and health workers, costing less than £500,000, should be considered instead. Senator Shenton, who was elected Health Minister by the States last week following their sacking of Senator Stuart Syvret, does not the believe that the economic case for safeguarding the entire 89,300 population has been made. He has withdrawn a proposition put forward by his predecessor to ask the States for £2.2 million – previously agreed by the Council of Ministers – because he is not convinced that the extra spending represents value for money. The World Health Organisation has predicted that a worldwide flu epidemic will occur within the next five to ten years, and the States had prepared plans to spend £2.2 million on a dose of Tamiflu and two vaccinations for every man, woman and child in the Island.
Jersey Evening Post
