Occupational Health: Flu Vaccination and Pandemic Planning

As part of our focus on the Healthcare Sector this quarter the October 26 British 
Business Network Meeting will address influenza - what is flu, how can it be 
prevented, and what can be done in the event of bird flu transmitting to humans 
thereby creating a global flu pandemic?

Event: 	British Business Network (BBN)
Venue: 	Multi-Functional Room A, the British Council, 4/F Landmark
                Building Tower 1, 8 Dongsanhuan Beilu
Date:	Thursday, October 26th, 2006
Time:	6.00pm-8.00pm
	Please ensure punctual arrival by 17:45.
Cost:  	Free of Charge (for BCCC members only)

Speakers:

	Dr Haiwen Tang, Regional Medical Director, GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals
                Annette Chiu, Medical Affairs and Regulatory Director of GSK HK
	Dr George Chen, Area Director for Medical Affairs and Clinical Research, 
                GSK China/HK Area
                Nicole Davison, H.M Consul & Deputy Director Visa Services 
                (China), the British Embassy

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) is the leading vaccine manufacturer in the world and a major 
supplier of flu vaccine.

Discussion Subject:

Influenza is a serious viral infection (as opposed to the common cold) that affects 
millions of people every year. It is particularly serious in certain high risk 
groups such as the elderly and people suffering from chronic respiratory diseases, 
diabetics etc. Safe and effective flu vaccines are now available and most countries 
of the world now vaccinate between 10-30% of their populations every year, while 
China's flu vaccine coverage is less than 2%. Flu vaccination can be very cost 
effective by keeping people out of hospital during the flu season and also by 
reducing the drug bill.

In addition to the annual burden of influenza, WHO experts have repeatedly warned 
that there is a major risk that the bird flu virus may be transmitted between 
humans, which could result in a global pandemic. Flu pandemics are generally caused 
by such a hybrid virus and occur 3-4 times per century. The last major pandemic 
took place in 1918-19 and killed an estimated 40-50 million people across the 
globe. Influenza is much more infectious than SARS, so the implications of a flu 
pandemic in China are potentially huge.

Reservations for the event will be taken on a first-come first-served basis. 
Please register with us in advance. If you have registered and discover that you 
cannot make the event please give us at least 48 hours notice. Thank you.

To guarantee your place simply register at www.pek.britcham.org or contact 
Mickey Zhao by 24th October, 2006
British Chamber of Commerce in China @ britcham@pek.britcham.org,  
F (010) 8525 1100, T (010) 8525 1111 ext. 707

We look forward to seeing you there!