The vaccine, after going through a trial in US, has now been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on 15 Sept 2009, about six months after the pandemic was first reported.
FDA approval means that the US government has certified the vaccine is made properly and fulfils the specific manufacturing, safety and quality standards.
According to US and Australian researchers, just one dose of this new vaccine appears to be strong enough to protect adults and should take effects in 8 to 10 days following vaccination. Vaccine safety for children and pregnant women is still being studied. The vaccine is expected to be gradually available by mid October 2009.
The above Associated Press report brings great relief to Health authorities the world over especially those in the northern hemisphere which is entering the winter period when flu virus transmissions are much more efficient.
Countries that can afford the cost of the vaccines have, months ago placed orders. US have ordered 195 million doses, UK for almost 80% of its population and most likely the same percentage for other wealthy countries such as Germany and Australia. Whither the poor countries?
Due to the prohibitive cost, priorities have to be set so that those most at risk, children, pregnant women, those with medical conditions and frontline health workers will be protected.
There is no better protection against influenza A H1N1 than vaccine.
By the time the vaccine comes to Malaysia, we would have known its side-effects (if any) on a large population... an upside to the whole issue of this long-awaited vaccine... but, on reflection, any life loss due to the inability of the country to get the vaccine earlier is definitely a grim downside.
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