France to sell surplus vaccines

The French Health Ministry has announced the cancellation of 50 million doses of vaccine for the A/H1N1 flu. And it's selling off part of stocks to other countries.

Health Minister Roselyne Bachelot says the cancelled doses are more than half of the government's initial order, and the move can save more than 350 million euros. She says they have not been paid for or delivered. So far, Qatar has purchased 300 thousand doses.

Egypt, Mexico and Ukraine are also eyeing France's surplus vaccines. The sell-off has triggered harsh criticism from the opposition parties. They accuse the government of wasting taxpayers' money and overreacting to the threat of A/H1N1 flu.