A vaccine against the H1N1 swine flu has been finalised by the Florida health department and approved by the FDA. It will be available from next month. However, as its demand is expected to be large, it will be first given to high priority groups.

 

“The vaccine would be available by the month of October 2009”, stated Kathleen Sebelius, the Secretary of Health and Human Services.
 
According to an earlier prediction, the vaccine would be supplied on a competitive basis. India has already placed an order for fifty million vaccines to be imported the country.

 
Tested by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, the vaccine would be efficient enough to cure healthy adults in a single shot. Those vaccinated would achieve complete immunity within ten days, though experts had earlier predicted, that it would take two shots, given as much as three weeks apart.
 
``It appears that the vaccine we're producing is working quite well,'' said Sebelius. The testing of vaccine continues on children with a pending decision of requirement of two doses for complete immunity.
 
Due to the high demand, the vaccine might not be provided at once and would require orders to be placed before hand, the Florida health officials added.
 
``We will be making sure the H1N1 vaccines,high-priority groups first,'' said Dr. Paula Thaqi, director of the Broward County Health Department. According to several experts, these groups, in the order of priority are:
 
• Pregnant women.
• Caregivers for children under six months of age, as these infants are at risk of swine flu but cannot be vaccinated themselves.
• All people from six months of age to 24 years.
• Adults 25 to 64 who have underlying health conditions such as asthma, diabetes, lung diseases or suppressed immune systems.
• Healthcare and emergency medical services personnel who will work with flu victims.
 
The Florida Health Department is finalising plans for swine flu vaccinations at retail pharmacies, supermarkets and other commercial facilities, for the disaster to end before impacting many other lives.