Topic: Pandemic Flu
Country: Germany
Delegate Name: Allison Hastings
School: Forest Hills Eastern High School
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All Germany position papers GLIMUN 2009 committees
The current outbreak of the H1N1 virus has greatly affected the people of Germany and most of the world. The first German death due to this pandemic was in late September; however, this person was at high risk to disease. More than 30,000 cases of H1N1 have been confirmed, and there are six deaths due to this virus. A new wave of outbreaks has begun with over 3,000 new cases a week this October. Although Germany has maintained a low death rate from the H1N1 virus, this flu pandemic affects Germany greatly. The government of Germany has made vaccinations available to the public in attempts to control the spread of the virus. Medical workers, the chronically ill, pregnant women and children as well as politicians were the first to receive the vaccine. Currently 50 million doses have been made available to the general public; however, there are doubts of the safety of some of the components of the vaccine. The long-term results of any new vaccine cannot be predicted only a few months after its release. The citizens of Germany are unsure of the adjuvants present in the H1N1 vaccine. Adjuvants decrease the amount of vaccine needed and increase the body’s acceptance of the vaccine. Continuation of research on the side effects of the H1N1 virus and the vaccines need to occur. Germany would like to see the improvements to the current vaccination as studies progress, and the hasty spread of the vaccination to all nations currently battling the virus and those nearby. The H1N1 virus cannot be ignored; all countries, even those not currently infected, need to be prepared for an out brake.
