Department of Health’s misguided alert recommending neuraminidase inhibitors for flu

On 27 January 2014, the Department of Health’s chief medical and pharmaceutical officers, Sally Davies and Keith Ridge, wrote a “for action” alert to NHS England leads, GPs, and community pharmacies endorsing the use of the antiviral drugs oseltamivir and zanamivir for prophylaxis and treatment of flu.1 2 The alert authorises GPs to prescribe the drugs at NHS expense for …