SuperNova1987A
Moderator
Novel flu vaccine production revised downward to 14 to 17 million doses this year
(July 4, 2009)
Source: http://www.nikkei.co.jp/news/shakai/20090703AT1G0303803072009.html
The Ministry of Health Labor and Welfare announced Thursday that only 14 to 17 million doses of novel flu vaccine will be ready by the end of this year, significantly lower than the Ministry?s previous estimate of 25 million doses. Multiplication potency of the virus is too weak to produce vaccine efficiently. Discussion over priority for flu shots will be affected too.
According to the Ministry, tests conducted by vaccine makers for the start of producion in the middle of July revealed multiplication potency of the novel flu virus is significantly lower than that of seasonal flu virus. The Mininistry was forced to revise its prior estimate which the Ministry calculated based on the multiplication potency of seasonal flu virus.
Four Japanese vaccine makers will start producion in the middle of this month and will start distribution of vaccine in October to reach 17 million doses by the end of this year. If they continue the producion until February next year, the total number will reach 23 to 30 million.
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PREVIOUS NEWS ON JUN 13(Jun. 13, 2009)
25 mil. new-flu vaccines seen ready by year-end
The Yomiuri Shimbun
If production of a vaccine against the new strain of influenza begins by mid-July, there would be enough for about 25 million people by the end of the year, according to an estimate by the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry.
- snip -
Domestic vaccine manufacturers began production of a vaccine against seasonal influenza in March and are expected to produce enough to vaccinate 40 million people, or 80 percent of the total production last year. The figure is the same as that actually used during winter. They plan to start producing the new vaccine after completing production of the seasonal flu vaccine.
- snip -
***********************************
What vaccine should be produced?
How many doses will be ready before flu season?
Who should get flu shots?
In addition to those questions, there's another question:
How efficacious the vaccine will be?
___________________
SN1987A
(July 4, 2009)
Source: http://www.nikkei.co.jp/news/shakai/20090703AT1G0303803072009.html
The Ministry of Health Labor and Welfare announced Thursday that only 14 to 17 million doses of novel flu vaccine will be ready by the end of this year, significantly lower than the Ministry?s previous estimate of 25 million doses. Multiplication potency of the virus is too weak to produce vaccine efficiently. Discussion over priority for flu shots will be affected too.
According to the Ministry, tests conducted by vaccine makers for the start of producion in the middle of July revealed multiplication potency of the novel flu virus is significantly lower than that of seasonal flu virus. The Mininistry was forced to revise its prior estimate which the Ministry calculated based on the multiplication potency of seasonal flu virus.
Four Japanese vaccine makers will start producion in the middle of this month and will start distribution of vaccine in October to reach 17 million doses by the end of this year. If they continue the producion until February next year, the total number will reach 23 to 30 million.
************************************
PREVIOUS NEWS ON JUN 13(Jun. 13, 2009)
25 mil. new-flu vaccines seen ready by year-end
The Yomiuri Shimbun
If production of a vaccine against the new strain of influenza begins by mid-July, there would be enough for about 25 million people by the end of the year, according to an estimate by the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry.
- snip -
Domestic vaccine manufacturers began production of a vaccine against seasonal influenza in March and are expected to produce enough to vaccinate 40 million people, or 80 percent of the total production last year. The figure is the same as that actually used during winter. They plan to start producing the new vaccine after completing production of the seasonal flu vaccine.
- snip -
***********************************
What vaccine should be produced?
How many doses will be ready before flu season?
Who should get flu shots?
In addition to those questions, there's another question:
How efficacious the vaccine will be?
___________________
SN1987A