BASEL, Switzerland, June 12, 2009

Experimental Swine Flu Vaccine Produced

However, Drug Made By Novartis Still Hasn't Been Tested

  •  (AP / file)

(AP)  The vaccine hasn't yet been tested and cannot be used in humans yet. It was made in cells, rather than grown in eggs as is usually the case with vaccines, the company said.

But because vaccines grown in cells account for less than 5 percent of the world's flu vaccine capacity, Novartis' announcement is unlikely to provide a major boost to the world's pandemic vaccine supply.

The announcement comes a day after WHO declared swine flu, also known as A(H1N1), a pandemic. The move indicates that a global outbreak is under way. WHO says drugmakers will likely have vaccines approved and ready for sale after September.

Novartis said it would use the first batch of vaccine for laboratory testing. It may also be tested in humans, the company said.

The vaccine was produced at a Novartis plant in Marburg, Germany. Novartis said the facility could potentially produce millions of doses of vaccine a week.

A second plant is being built in Holly Springs, North Carolina, the company said.

Novartis said more than 30 governments have requested vaccine supplies, including the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service, which placed a $289 million order in May.

© MMIX The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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by janieanddeb June 14, 2009 2:28 PM EDT
Itn will a long time for them to get enough of the vacine ready and tested in the amnunt need for a pandemic .
the numbers are changing daily even the WHO has referred to the viurs as Unstopable
In the end we will responsible for our own health .
wash hands
avoid crowds
stay away form crowded living situations
avoid visiting hospitals and apartment building and avoid sharing elevators with anyone.
When this hits people will leave the city in record numbers
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by mainermike June 14, 2009 9:38 AM EDT
This is AS I SEE IT, by Mike "Mainer Mike" Brown.

I hope they come up with a vaccine that will help everybody soon, for two reasons.

One, I'd hate to see another life lost.

Second, I'm sick of hearing about this topic, which has made the headlines all too much, considering that last week, more people died from cancer than this flu.

Man, does the media enjoy scaring the American public. Anything for a news story.

That's AS I SEE IT. I'm Mike "Mainer Mike" Brown.
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by June 13, 2009 10:08 PM EDT
dartplayer 501 this is for you and your synthetic drug lifestyle.

"The FDA has approved Forest Laboratories' antidepressant Lexapro (escitalopram) for use in children and adolescents, even as the federal government and 11 states have filed a lawsuit against the company for illegally pushing the drug on kids." Posted by Baileyccc
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by borg99 June 13, 2009 4:46 PM EDT
Yes, by all means let's feel sorry for the poor innocent children -- the hundreds of millions around the world whose lives have been saved by everything from penecillin to the polio vaccine.

You right-wing paranoids need to start taking YOUR medications again.
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by dartplayer501 June 12, 2009 4:47 PM EDT
Only a fool would take this poison. Posted by Baileyccc

We can assume you won't take any "poison" when you contract A(H1N1), and die soon afterwards. Then we won't have to put up with any more of your crazy, alarmist posts.
Reply to this comment
by June 12, 2009 12:28 PM EDT
Only a fool would take this poison. Posted by Baileyccc
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