H1N1
Swine Flu Vaccine Update
Prevention is better than cure and this is certainly true for the H1 N1 Swine flu pandemic, for which there are several recommended dos and don’ts to prevent its spread. Chief among the preventive measures is the much awaited Swine flu vaccine, which is yet to reach India.
The indigenously developed Swine flu vaccines are still some time away from being available in India. In the event there are plans to import the vaccines, which however have to be tested in Indian conditions and on Indians. The efficacy and safety of the vaccines for the Indian populace is yet to be determined and trails to determine this will be conducted in two weeks’ time according to this Times report.
To the end that the imported vaccines can be effectively be used for Indians, international vaccine manufacturers — Novartis, GSK, Sanofi Pasteur and Baxter — which are ready with an H1N1 candidate vaccine, some of which is already in use in several countries, were asked to submit their vaccine testing protocol to the Indian Council of Medical Research.
Meanwhile even in countries where the Swine flu vaccine is ready and available for use, there is a short fall in the requisite number of doses. According to this Bloomberg report, regions in the United States have received so far, only 25 percent of the 411,000 doses anticipated for October, and that there is a nationwide shortfall in meeting demand for the swine flu vaccine.
There is particular anger being expressed by parents who are hoping to acquire the vaccine to ensure safety of their children from the swine flu virus, who are more at risk from the infection. At places mass vaccination attempts have also met with failure since there are not enough doses of the vaccine available to do the needful.
In India the hope is being expressed that prior to the second wave of swine flu which is expected by January, at least some vaccines will be available. It is expected that by April-end, India’s indigenous vaccine should be available for mass use.
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