Poor nations might not get ample swine flu vaccine stock
POSTED July 27, 2009 - 15:43 | POSTED BY Jaspreet Kaur
Last edited by Priya Markanda on July 27, 2009 - 15:55
As per unofficial estimates by the World Health Organization, only 900 million doses might be produced in the labs for A (H1N1) strain every year. But the population estimates on this planet are somewhere around 6.8 billion people.
Even though the pharmaceutical companies say that they will be able to produce optimum drugs, it might not reach most of the people because an infected person requires two doses.
Wealthy countries lap up a larger share
It is most likely that Africa, Asia and Latin America will not get sufficient amounts of vaccine and the richest countries will grab most of it.
WHO director Margaret Chan, was quoted as saying last week, “The lion’s share of these limited supplies will go to wealthy countries. Again we see the advantage of affluence. Again we see access denied by an inability to pay.”
The developed countries have already placed huge orders for the vaccine and so most of the production is already reserved.
WHO asks rich nations to donate vaccines
Pharmaceutical companies are hurriedly raising their capability to produce an A (H1N1) vaccine, once tests confirm that one has been developed. They are preparing to release stocks in late September or early October.
Since there is definitely going to be a shortage of vaccines in the developing and poor nations, authorities are concentrating on vaccinating health workers and other such vulnerable people so as to preserve stocks.
The WHO is doing its bit by asking the vaccine producers to either donate or sell the vaccines at a lower price to the developing countries. Also, the developed countries have been told to donate a part of their vaccine stocks.
Swine flu
At present, swine flu is a global pandemic and has claimed about 800 lives. Even though the virus spreads rapidly, the A (H1N1) flu strain is not considered a major threat and most of the people survive it after being administered drugs such as Tamiflu.
However, experts believe that if the virus mutates it can become lethal and the upcoming winter season in the northern hemisphere might just make things worse.
