WHO to distribute vaccines to over 199 developing nations

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</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR><TR><TD class=content>Havana, Oct 28 (NNN-Prensa Latina) - WHO will begin distributing lots of vaccines in over 100 developing countries including Cuba in Nov, the director general of World Health Organisation (WHO), Margaret Chan said.

She confirmed here that influenza A(H1N1) was currently affecting humanity and will only come to a natural end when there is enough immunity.​

However, she said the situation was not ideal, as several thousands of millions of doses are still needed to protect the whole population.​

According to WHO, the pandemic is "moderate," though it is known that the influenza virus is one of the most unpredictable and spreads rapidly worldwide.​

That can be achieved though contact with the virus or vaccination campaigns, but the global stock of vaccines is limited and insufficient, the expert said during a lecture at Havana's Pedro Kouri Institute of Tropical Medicine.​

Chan stressed the importance of the treatment in the first 48 hours after symptoms appear, as it reduces severity of the disease.​

On the other hand, she highlighted the positive aspects of the century's first pandemic, like the fact that the vaccine was ready in less than six months, as result of international cooperation, and calls by organizations like WHO.​

Antiviral medicine supplies are available in 121 developing nations, thanks to the industry's donations.​

Dr. Margaret Chan is currently on a four-day visit to Cuba beginning last Saturday and has visited important scientific institutions. -- (NNN-Prensa Latina)​

http://www.namnewsnetwork.org/v2/read.php?id=99372​

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Re: WHO to distribute vaccines to over 199 developing nations

#1: "Chan stressed the importance of the treatment in the first 48 hours after symptoms appear, as it reduces severity of the disease."

 

[Pathfinder]

Re: WHO to distribute vaccines to over 199 developing nations

Vaccine programme launched

2009-10-30 17:34

Geneva - The World Health Organisation has launched a programme to give H1N1 flu vaccines to nearly 100 developing countries, with the first ones receiving the shots soon, its vaccine expert said on Friday.

Marie-Paule Kieny, head of vaccine research at the UN health body, said a group of 16 countries was being contacted and should shortly receive enough vaccines to inoculate up to 2% of the population.

The countries were recommended to vaccinate healthcare workers first, she told a news conference.

Eventually the WHO would supply 95 developing countries with a view to immunising over 10% of their population against pandemic H1N1, widely known as swine flu.

WHO has received donations of 156 million doses of vaccine from four manufacturers or governments, and hoped to reach the 200 million dose level needed to help 95 countries, she said.

Donor governments are also helping with syringes, needles, other equipment and finance.

The WHO declared H1N1 an unstoppable pandemic in June and it has since spread around the world, with 25 manufacturers making vaccines to different formulations.

WHO experts say the vaccines, of which one shot suffices, are safe.

Teenagers and young adults are most likely to catch swine flu, in contrast to the seasonal flu viruses where the elderly are most at risk.

Most people escape with mild symptoms, but some groups such as pregnant women or people with previous health conditions such as diabetes can suffer severe illness or die from the virus.

- Reuters

http://www.news24.com/Content/World...9/30-10-2009-05-34/Vaccine_programme_launched