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Mexico to produce vaccines against influenza
Health | Editorial | Monday, October 18, 2010 14:10
Officials hope to have the means to tackle any new outbreak such as influenza A H1N1 in 2009
Mexico inaugurated a plant for production of antigens required to produce vaccines against influenza within their own territory, which the authorities hope to have the means to tackle any new outbreak such as influenza A H1N1 in 2009.
The plant antigen (the substance needed to produce a vaccine) was built by the company Sanofi-Pasteur in Ocoyoacac municipality on the outskirts of Mexico City, and will produce 30 million doses annually.
President Felipe Calderon said at the opening ceremony that in event of another pandemic, the plant could produce up to 90 million antigens, which are expected to ensure adequate care of the population.
Sanofi-Pasteur, the vaccines division of French drugmaker Sanofi-Aventis, spent 1.725 million pesos (about $ 140 million) in building the plant as part of an agreement with the Mexican government.
Under the agreement, Sanofi-Pasteur will produce antigens against influenza and Mexico will own production of the vaccine and its distribution in the country, the company said in a statement.
Sanofi Pasteur reported that in 2009 produced 180 million doses against influenza.
"The Mexican government is now more prepared than ever not only to deal with a pandemic, which can occur at any time again, but also to produce vaccines to prevent the pandemic is transmitted to other Mexicans," Calderon said.
Mexico announced to the world on April 23, 2009 the presence of a new strain of influenza, H1N1, and within days the capital and several states were virtually paralyzed by the suspension of activities.
The epidemic was declared in the next few weeks as a pandemic that affected more than 200 countries and killed over 17,000 people worldwide.
Calderon said that with the capacity to produce vaccines, the country will no longer be subject to the decision of other countries to acquire them.