Latest Updates on the H1N1 Vaccine

The World Health Organization (WHO) has recently put forth a recommendation that the H1N1 vaccine for swine flu must be part of the 2010 to 2011 seasonal flu vaccine for the Northern Hemisphere. The WHO convenes twice yearly for ascertaining which flu versions are having the maximum dominance and selected 3 strains to incorporate in the standard flu shot.

On the basis of suggestions provided by flu specialists across the globe, a decision was made during a congregation last week held in Geneva, Switzerland about the endemic H1N1 influenza strain being part of the H1N1 vaccine for flu for the subsequent fall-winter season, according to the director-general, WHO, Mr. Keiji Fukuda.

Mr. Fukuda asserted that actuality of the novel H1N1 flu strain being a part of the subsequent seasonal flu vaccine does not in any way translate to the H1N1 endemic having ended and certainly not an on/off, overnight occurrence. During the teleconference Fukuda pointed out that soaring cases of H1N1 flu still plague areas like North and West Africa, certain areas of Asia, East Europe. During a congregation held in September, the WHO has put forth the recommendation for the H1N1 strain included seasonal flu vaccine in the Southern Hemisphere.

Seasonal flu vaccine generally has 3 constituents, and the 2010 to 2011 vaccine is no exemption. Among human beings, 3 forms of flu viruses have been observed circulating, namely, H1N1 and H3N2 type A, and type B bugs.

Presently, the prevailing H1N1 strain is certainly the present year’s H1N1 swine flu virus. The prevailing H3N2 bug is the so-dubbed Perth viral strain, and the prevailing B bug is the so-dubbed Brisbane strain of the virus.

Till date more than two hundred million individuals have been inoculated with the H1N1 vaccine and the safety quotient has had a fair safety track record.

Although the WHO has furnished a recommendation on what strains would be part of the subsequent flu vaccine; however it would be the sole decision of each country on whether the merger of all 3 suggested strains is included in a single shot or doling out each one of the strains individually. Inclusion of the endemic H1N1 strain during the present year was not possible as it surfaced during April, nearly 2 months following selection of the 3 seasonal flu strains for the 2009 to 2010 flu season.

The advisory committee of FDA is due for a meeting on Monday and in most certainty would consent to the WHO proposal. Similarly the advisory committee of the CDC is expected to follow suit too following a voting planned on Wednesday. The FDA would be issuing a concluding verdict just in time for vaccine producers to pump up their productions.