cozodapo
Resident
Not to put too fine a point on it, a look a the distribution of flu vaccine production facilities around the world gives cause for concern. Given that production of vaccines in embryonated eggs requires chickens and that these are susceptible to bird flu, much of the discussion about production capacity and surge capability is rendered moot unless we also have the capacity to protect large flocks of layers (which must be raised in free range conditions to ensure fertilization of the eggs). In fact it is clear we have nearly all our eggs in just a few baskets (pun intended) with the biggest ones sitting snugly underneath major bird flyways in which outbreaks have already occurred. What is being done to ensure biosecurity at manufacturing facilities?
It would seem that an important strategy at this point should be to boost vaccine quality egg production in every country, (prioritizing countries minimally affected by migratory bird flyways) so that in the worse case eggs could be supplied from any of many alternative sources.
Here is one proposal I found for protecting fertilized egg producing couples from birdflu...
From:http://www.ifpma.org/Influenza/index.aspx?46
Membership
The IFPMA IVS members are all involved in research, development and production of influenza vaccines, representing more than 95% of world production.
As of October 2006, member companies are: Baxter, Biken, CSL Limited, Crucell (including Berna Biotech), Denka Seiken, GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals (including former ID Biomedical), Kaketsuken, Kitasato Institute, MedImmune, Nobilon International BV, Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics (former Chiron Vaccines), sanofi pasteur, Sanofi Pasteur MSD, and Solvay Pharmaceuticals.
Influenza vaccine production sites of the IFPMA IVS member manufacturers are located in the following countries: Australia, Canada, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Switzerland, United Kingdom and United States.
It would seem that an important strategy at this point should be to boost vaccine quality egg production in every country, (prioritizing countries minimally affected by migratory bird flyways) so that in the worse case eggs could be supplied from any of many alternative sources.
Here is one proposal I found for protecting fertilized egg producing couples from birdflu...
From:http://www.ifpma.org/Influenza/index.aspx?46
Membership
The IFPMA IVS members are all involved in research, development and production of influenza vaccines, representing more than 95% of world production.
As of October 2006, member companies are: Baxter, Biken, CSL Limited, Crucell (including Berna Biotech), Denka Seiken, GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals (including former ID Biomedical), Kaketsuken, Kitasato Institute, MedImmune, Nobilon International BV, Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics (former Chiron Vaccines), sanofi pasteur, Sanofi Pasteur MSD, and Solvay Pharmaceuticals.
Influenza vaccine production sites of the IFPMA IVS member manufacturers are located in the following countries: Australia, Canada, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Switzerland, United Kingdom and United States.
