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Pig flu vaccine not available 'for months'
June 28, 2009 03:20am
A SWINE flu vaccine may not be available until next winter, despite fears of more deaths from the virus.
Scientists from CSL say the Melbourne laboratory has created an effective sample of a vaccine against H1N1 influenza, but human trials are needed to determine the right dosage.
The Sun-Herald newspaper says the federal government has ruled out releasing the vaccine early to vulnerable groups such as the elderly or those with chronic illnesses.
Rachel David from CSL said results of the trial - involving 240 healthy adults from South Australia - will determine when the 10 million doses ordered by the government will be distributed.
Dr David said the earliest the vaccine will be ready for use is mid- to late-August, but if the virus continues to produce mild symptoms the government might delay distribution until next year.
Dr David said the Therapeutic Goods Administration, the government and public health experts, not CSL, will control when the vaccine is available.
All five people who have died in Australia with swine flu - two Western Australians and three Victorians - had underlying health conditions.
Professor Raina MacIntyre, an infectious diseases expert at the University of NSW, said more swine flu deaths are likely as people have not built up immunity to the disease.
She said a swine flu scare in the 1970s led to the rushing out of a vaccine that had serious neurological side effects.
June 28, 2009 03:20am
A SWINE flu vaccine may not be available until next winter, despite fears of more deaths from the virus.
Scientists from CSL say the Melbourne laboratory has created an effective sample of a vaccine against H1N1 influenza, but human trials are needed to determine the right dosage.
The Sun-Herald newspaper says the federal government has ruled out releasing the vaccine early to vulnerable groups such as the elderly or those with chronic illnesses.
Rachel David from CSL said results of the trial - involving 240 healthy adults from South Australia - will determine when the 10 million doses ordered by the government will be distributed.
Dr David said the earliest the vaccine will be ready for use is mid- to late-August, but if the virus continues to produce mild symptoms the government might delay distribution until next year.
Dr David said the Therapeutic Goods Administration, the government and public health experts, not CSL, will control when the vaccine is available.
All five people who have died in Australia with swine flu - two Western Australians and three Victorians - had underlying health conditions.
Professor Raina MacIntyre, an infectious diseases expert at the University of NSW, said more swine flu deaths are likely as people have not built up immunity to the disease.
She said a swine flu scare in the 1970s led to the rushing out of a vaccine that had serious neurological side effects.