U.S. to Spend $1 Billion on H1N1 Flu Vaccine Production

A News & Events entry posted on May 26, 2009

According to a Wall Street Journal article, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius stated the U.S. will spend $1 billion to start the process of making an H1N1 influenza vaccine. The money, which comes from funds already set aside for pandemic influenza, will fund new and existing contracts with influenza vaccine makers such as Sanofi Aventis SA, GlaxoSmithKline and Novartis. The money will be used partly to purchase bulk ingredients to be placed in a federal stockpile that could be used if officials decide to move forward with a wide-scale vaccination campaign.

Dr. Fukuda is the World Health Oragnization’s (WHO) acting assistant director-general for health security and environment is weighing current criteria. Specifically, the Wolrd Health Organization is considering taking a virus severity into account as well as geographic spread, Dr. Fukuda said. This would mean an adjustment of terms laying out when to raise alert levels, which are meant to inform countries how to prepare. Input from several countries had led to intense discussion about the appropriate response at this weeks World Health Assembly, Dr. Fukuda said.

For the full article visit The Wall Street Journal Online.

Current US H1N1 Activity
Us Flu Activity

For up to date information on H1N1 Influenza visit the following websites:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention H1N1 Influenza Website

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention H1N1 Influenza General Information Website

Virginia Department of Health

World Health Organization