WHO: Poorer countries will receive H1N1 vaccines

Head researcher Marie-Paule Kieny of the World Health Organization said Monday that about 100 low- and middle-income nations will start receiving the H1N1 flu vaccines and syringes donated by companies such as GlaxoSmithKline and Sanofi.

WHO declared in June that the flu virus, commonly known as swine flu,  had reached full pandemic proportions.  At least 4,500 people have been reported killed.

“We are trying to have a first delivery starting in November,” Kieny told journalists in Geneva. “The idea is to start with northern hemisphere countries first.”

She said it is important that health workers in poorer countries get protected first against the virus, so there will be no chance the virus is going to be passed on to the patients.  It is also vital that hospitals and health clinics remain open.

It is expected that supply won’t be a problem as the vaccines have been quickly developed in response to the H1N1 strain.  Work is underway to determine the exact production capacity of vaccine manufacturers worldwide.

Kieny believes one dose of the vaccine is enough to ensure protection against the H1N1 strain, which does not appear to have morphed into a more virulent or milder form since it first erupted in Mexico and the United States.

[via reuters.com]