Wednesday, September 16, 2009

FDA approve Swine Flu Vaccine

Food and Drug Administration has approved four swine flu vaccine, and approximately 45 million doses should be available mid October, federal officials yesterday afternoon.

Preliminary testing of the vaccine showed "robust immune response in most healthy adults eight to 10 days after one dose, the FDA said in a statement.

The news comes on the heels of Friday's announcement that the vaccine works in only one dose, but two scientists defy expectations and fears that it was not enough vaccine to go around.

Officials spent 1 billion U.S. dollars to 195 million doses of the vaccine and provide health secretary Kathleen Sebelius said, "we will be enough vaccine for everyone." Priority groups such as pregnant women and health workers will be on the front line.

FDA seal is supplied as a vaccine is still being tested in children and pregnant women, seen as a high risk for complications from the H1N1 virus.

Results of experiments on children can be ready in a few weeks, said Dr. Wilbur Chen, a flu expert who oversees clinical trials of the vaccine at the University of Maryland's Center for Vaccine Development. Yet studies in pregnant women take longer, because they just started last week.

For now, Chen believes that the results will find this vaccine is as safe and effective as a seasonal flu shot - and for all groups of people.

Perhaps the bigger question is will anyone want one?

The results of our research here less than Picture of Health show that 44 percent of you say you get shot, while 35 percent of you. Another 20 percent are not sure.

An interesting story in the LA Times has a view of the growing problem of vaccine skepticism.

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