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Swine flu threatens seasonal flu vaccinations
The Yomiuri Shimbun
The Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry likely will suspend production of seasonal influenza vaccines for this winter if it decides to produce vaccines for the strain of swine flu currently claiming lives in Mexico, sources said Saturday.
However, the ministry faces a dilemma over which vaccine to prioritize as it is feared that the number of influenza deaths, especially among elderly people, would increase if production of seasonal influenza vaccines were discontinued.
The National Institute of Infectious Diseases (NIID) is trying to secure a sample of the swine flu virus to allow it to develop a vaccine.
The NIID, in line with a government action plan, would swiftly begin preparations to produce a vaccine should the World Health Organization judge the outbreak in North America be that of a new influenza strain.
Production, however, is expected to take about six months, and it would take about 18 months to make enough for everyone in the country.
Limited facilities and the need to obtain a large number of fertilized eggs reportedly would make it necessary to suspend production of seasonal influenza vaccines and switch entirely to producing swine flu vaccines.
About 25 million seasonal influenza vaccines are produced annually.
The Yomiuri Shimbun
The Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry likely will suspend production of seasonal influenza vaccines for this winter if it decides to produce vaccines for the strain of swine flu currently claiming lives in Mexico, sources said Saturday.
However, the ministry faces a dilemma over which vaccine to prioritize as it is feared that the number of influenza deaths, especially among elderly people, would increase if production of seasonal influenza vaccines were discontinued.
The National Institute of Infectious Diseases (NIID) is trying to secure a sample of the swine flu virus to allow it to develop a vaccine.
The NIID, in line with a government action plan, would swiftly begin preparations to produce a vaccine should the World Health Organization judge the outbreak in North America be that of a new influenza strain.
Production, however, is expected to take about six months, and it would take about 18 months to make enough for everyone in the country.
Limited facilities and the need to obtain a large number of fertilized eggs reportedly would make it necessary to suspend production of seasonal influenza vaccines and switch entirely to producing swine flu vaccines.
About 25 million seasonal influenza vaccines are produced annually.
