MOVES by the US to push through a swine flu vaccine by September could halve the number of doses available there at the start of its winter flu season.
The that by August global production of the vaccine will reach 94.5 million doses per week (Vaccine, ). But this estimate relies on all companies using formulations with potent adjuvants – additives to the vaccine that boost the immune response and reduce the amount of virus needed in each dose.
However, the adjuvants have not been approved for use in the US, and there is no time for new testing. Last week the that to make vaccine available quickly the US should stick to the well-tested formulation of the seasonal flu vaccine.
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The WHO warns that if adjuvant vaccines are not “fully used” this will reduce by 40 to 50 per cent the number of doses made per week.
