H1N1 Vaccine: Who Should Get It?

World Health Organization Convenes Meeting As Flu Cases Top 6,600 Worldwide

(AP)  As swine flu cases topped 6,600 worldwide, vaccine makers and other experts met Thursday at the World Health Organization in Geneva to discuss the tough decisions that must be made quickly to fight the evolving virus.

Pharmaceutical companies are ready to begin making a swine flu vaccine - but as the virus constantly mutates, questions abound: How much should be produced? How will it be distributed? Who should get it?

The expert group's recommendations will be passed to WHO Director-General Margaret Chan, who is expected to issue advice to vaccine manufacturers and the World Health Assembly next week.

But some feel the main decision has already been made.

"It's a foregone conclusion," said David Fedson, a vaccines expert and former professor of medicine at the University of Virginia. "If we don't invest in an H1N1 (swine flu) vaccine, then possibly we could have a reappearance of this virus in a mild, moderate, or catastrophic form and we would have absolutely nothing."

Most flu vaccine companies can only make one vaccine at a time: seasonal flu vaccine or pandemic vaccine. Production takes months and it is impossible to switch halfway through if health officials make a mistake.

Vaccine makers can make limited amounts of both seasonal flu vaccine and pandemic vaccine - though not at the same time - but they cannot make massive quantities of both because that exceeds manufacturing capacity.

Seasonal flu kills up to 500,000 people a year. At the moment, health officials aren't sure how deadly swine flu is, and whether they will need more seasonal flu vaccine or swine flu vaccine. And if the swine flu mutates, scientists aren't sure how effective a vaccine made now from the current strain will remain.

WHO estimates that up to 2 billion doses of swine flu vaccine could be produced every year, though the first batches wouldn't be available for four to six months.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is currently working on a "seed stock" to make the vaccine, which should be ready in the next couple of weeks. That will be distributed to manufacturers worldwide so they can start producing the vaccine.

Until vaccine manufacturers get the seed stock, they won't know how many doses of vaccine they can make or how long that would take. Sanofi Pasteur, the world's biggest vaccine producer, said Thursday it is waiting for the green light from WHO before it starts making swine flu vaccine.

WHO is also negotiating with vaccine producers like GlaxoSmithKline PLC to save some of their swine flu vaccine for poorer nations. Many rich nations like Britain, Canada, Denmark, France, Switzerland and the United States signed deals with vaccine makers years ago to guarantee them pandemic vaccines as soon as they're available.

As of Thursday, at least 33 countries reported more than 6,600 cases of swine flu worldwide, with 69 deaths. According to WHO's pandemic alert level, the world is at phase 5 - out of a possible 6 - meaning that a global outbreak is "imminent."

"It's a no-brainer," Fedson said of the decision to make swine flu vaccine. "All that's being discussed now is the details of how to make sure you have enough seasonal flu vaccine and the logistics of making the switch to H1N1 vaccine production."

North America has been the hardest-hit continent. The United States has reported 3,352 laboratory-confirmed cases of swine flu, including three deaths. Mexico has 2,656 cases and 64 deaths, while Canada has 389 cases with one death, according to WHO figures.

Mexico confirmed 374 more cases Thursday including four more deaths, but Health Secretary Jose Angel Cordova said the new cases show the virus is appearing less deadly. Mexico's swine flu deaths now represent 2.4 percent of its confirmed cases, he said.

Spain and Britain have the most cases in Europe, at 100 and 78 respectively.

In Central America, Costa Rica has eight cases and one death and Panama has 29 cases.

[tjean]

As I read these posts; I have to wonder is the world filled with narrow minded idiots or what. Really.... oh my gosh, if you don't want the immunization, don't get it! It's that simple.

[italianrose101]

mrs_trepidatious You are truly wrong, and as a Christian I am appalled. The old, very young and weak need it more than just the Christians. As Christians we should stand strong and not judge people simply by their religion: Also part of being Christian is being strong in Faith, not being selfish and actually caring more for others than we do ourselves.

[erasmus111]

I'm still trying to find out "Who Should Get It" as the title suggests. Did the author forget what he/she was writing about???????

Posted by orinfagel at 3:17 PM : May 14, 2009

I think someone else already said it. The old, the very young, and people that have chronic health problems.

[erasmus111]

Here's a novel idea: How about giving it to everyone affected????

Posted by denn034 at 3:55 PM : May 14, 2009

Because once they are "affected" it's too late.

[denn034]

Here's a novel idea: How about giving it to everyone affected????

[barbaram99]

Well now that is a word I have now heard in ages.Mum used it iand I asked her what do ye mean darkies and I could not see the colour of my skin. I don't trust the nanny govt here. If ye do. Who should get it. Well I don't know.

[orinfagel]

I'm still trying to find out "Who Should Get It" as the title suggests. Did the author forget what he/she was writing about???????

[latinagarcia]

well if the swine flu doesn't kill you the vaccine may, with all the side effects we get from meds and vaccines you never know.

[McHineguy]

I am so glad our government is finally in charge of our health care. We dont have to trouble ourselves with these decisions. Our government will make the best decision for us and take care of us all. We just have to be sure and vote for the Democrats and we can get whatever the government deams is our fair share.

I know it will work. Its how the plantaion owners took care of their "darkies" so many years ago. Before we lost our way and made veryone free instead of letting the man in the big house take care of the people.

[godfirstcountrysecond]

Wouldn't we figure that those with High priority would need it. The elderly, Babie and Toddlers, and those with immune issues. Now, those who have inteligence (I will hope everyone) would know not to panic because the rest have a better chance of fighting it off.

[pensacola8-2009]

There is a tangible value for any virus that has the ability to mutate itself from a lethal form to a non-lethal form. Maybe a discovery of how one lethal form of any virus can be engineered to do the same thing. I wonder if lethal viruses can be interacted with known mutating viruses that would result in a non-lethal form of a virus. Maybe the cure for lethal pneumonia or aids is closer than we know.

[Oregon_State_OSU]

H1N1 Vaccine: Who Should Get It?

Its the REGULAR FLU.

WHO CARES.

[I_am_me1953]

From the above article, "Pharmaceutical companies are ready to begin making a swine flu vaccine - but as the virus constantly mutates, questions abound: How much should be produced? How will it be distributed? Who should get it?'
_________________

Ok I have one dose of H1N1 vaccine I am not going to use. So let the bidding begin, if you people don't bid high enough really soon I am going on ebay. I just thought I would offer it to my friends/enemies here first.

[hetup-2009]

It should go to whoever worries about the flu the most, they should have some comfort.

[erasmus111]

erasmus, ... yes the previous vaccine caused major problems, ,, for the people who refused it.

Posted by martin9p2 at 11:08 AM : May 14, 2009

Ha Ha. No, I also heard that the vaccine itself caused some really bad problems. I can't remember what they were.

[martin9p2]

erasmus, ... yes the previous vaccine caused major problems, ,, for the people who refused it.

[mrs_trepidatious]

I think it should be Christians first.

[dinosaur3]

haha.

but you get to go to heaven after you die. save it for those less fortunate, you know, the "non-christians".

[haveaheart0202]

How rude and wrong you are!! Thats why our country is going to the dump. The people who think that are "real christians" are so selfish. I'm a christian and i wouldn't think about myself first. I would think about all the little children who are more likely, mush more likey to get it than you. Anyways, my nephew had it and it went away in 10 days. Nothing happened, its just the same as the regular flu.

[erasmus111]

I wouldn't be getting any of that stuff injected in my arm. I'll take my chances. Didn't the last vaccine cause some major problems?