Friday, July 31, 2009
Serum Institute preparing vaccine

Sakal Times. Pune

Serum Institute is working on Influenza A H1N1 virus strain to prepare injectable vaccine to be ready for animal testing in the next two months. The institute will receive the virus strain for live attenuated vaccine, administered orally, in the first week of August.

World Health Organisation (WHO) has asked Serum Institute to produce swine flu vaccine for the Indian population. The institute may take another six months for mass production of fully-tested swine flu vaccine, said senior director of the institute, Rajeev Dhere. He said, “We have done great progress on the virus strain for creation of injectable inactivated vaccine. This vaccine will be ready for laboratory animal testing in two months. Once these tests give full-proof positive results, we will seek government clearance for human testing.”

Once prepared, the vaccine has advantages like low cost, quick and more durable immunity and is easy to transport and administer like polio vaccine.

SIX MONTHS

The institute may take another six months for mass production of fully-tested swine flu vaccine, said Serum Institute senior director Rajeev Dhere.