H1N1 vaccine ready, India napping
August 30 2009, Times of India Bangalore.
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Several countries have booked millions of doses of anti-flu shots. But India is yet to place its first order with any company foreign or local Rupali Mukherjee | TNN
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New Delhi: The first batches of swine flu vaccine rolled out from Baxter Inc labs on Friday but theres little to cheer for India. While the first supplies from Baxter went to the British health network, subsequent batches from Baxter and other pharma companies have been booked by countries such as the US and the UK which are stockpiling the vaccine to ward off a harsher bout of swine flu.
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New Delhi: The first batches of swine flu vaccine rolled out from Baxter Inc labs on Friday but theres little to cheer for India. While the first supplies from Baxter went to the British health network, subsequent batches from Baxter and other pharma companies have been booked by countries such as the US and the UK which are stockpiling the vaccine to ward off a harsher bout of swine flu.
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While huge quantities 195 million and 90 million doses respectively are going to the US and the UK India is still miles from getting vaccines because the government has not entered into any pre-booking contracts with Novartis , GlaxoSmithKline or any others. More alarmingly, India also may not have its indigenous vaccine ready by February-March next year.
While huge quantities 195 million and 90 million doses respectively are going to the US and the UK India is still miles from getting vaccines because the government has not entered into any pre-booking contracts with Novartis , GlaxoSmithKline or any others. More alarmingly, India also may not have its indigenous vaccine ready by February-March next year.
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Neighbouring China has some 20-odd companies racing to get the vaccine in the market, with Sinovac Biotech perhaps the first company worldwide to complete clinical trials for influenza A vaccine.
The WHO said recently that countries in the northern hemisphere alone had ordered more than one billion doses of swine flu vaccine , sparking warnings about shortages , given the intense demand and production delays.
Developing an anti-flu vaccine (against the H1N1 virus) is the only way to protect people against the disease , which may become severe with the onset of winter and the even more dire possibility of the H1N1 virus mutating. Despite the swine flu touching 90, Indian health authorities have failed to move fast enough.
Giving It Their BEST SHOT
Has booked 195m anti-H 1N1 shots in all. Mass vaccinations to start by mid-October . 45m doses will be available at the start, followed by 20m doses every week
UK:
Neighbouring China has some 20-odd companies racing to get the vaccine in the market, with Sinovac Biotech perhaps the first company worldwide to complete clinical trials for influenza A vaccine.
The WHO said recently that countries in the northern hemisphere alone had ordered more than one billion doses of swine flu vaccine , sparking warnings about shortages , given the intense demand and production delays.
Developing an anti-flu vaccine (against the H1N1 virus) is the only way to protect people against the disease , which may become severe with the onset of winter and the even more dire possibility of the H1N1 virus mutating. Despite the swine flu touching 90, Indian health authorities have failed to move fast enough.
Giving It Their BEST SHOT
Has booked 195m anti-H 1N1 shots in all. Mass vaccinations to start by mid-October . 45m doses will be available at the start, followed by 20m doses every week
UK:
Has booked 90m doses. Baxter to supply 30m, has begun delivery to govt
China:
Has booked 10m doses from Sinovac Biotech. Plans to inoculate 50% of urban population
France:
94m doses
Mexico
China:
Has booked 10m doses from Sinovac Biotech. Plans to inoculate 50% of urban population
France:
94m doses
Mexico
40 m doses
India:
Yet to book a single dose. Indian firms unlikely to produce vaccine before May next year .
India:
Yet to book a single dose. Indian firms unlikely to produce vaccine before May next year .
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