First Swine Flu Vaccines in India by December
Posted on Nov 15, 2009 by Reena Daruwalla | Comments 0
According to a report published in the Hindustan Times 4 million H1N1 Swine Flu vaccines are to be imported into India and of those, the first batch will reach India in December.
The first priority for vaccination will be given to those medical workers in hospitals who will come into direct contact with infected patients in the process of screening, testing and treating people with swine flu.
“Four international vaccine manufacturers — Novartis, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), Sanofi-Aventis and Baxter International — have quoted rates to the government,” Vineet Chawdhry, joint secretary, Union ministry of health was quoted as having said. Orders are to be placed next week and all four companies have expressed their ability to be able to provide and deliver on the volumes required.
Earlier there was the concern that the vaccines being produced abroad may not be efficacious or safe to be used on Indians. “Vaccine safety is the biggest concern more than efficacy as H1N1 can be treated,” said Chawdhry, however, the trials to confirm safety of the vaccines in respect of the Indian population have commenced so the concern is being addressed.
It is being said that one dose of the vaccine is needed to offer protection against H1N1.
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Posted in: H1N1 • Swine Flu Drugs
