May 1, 2009
U.S. authorities are pledging to eventually produce enough swine flu vaccine for everyone but the shots won’t begin until fall at the earliest.
Scientists are racing to prepare the key ingredient to make a vaccine against the never-before-seen flu strain — if it’s ultimately needed.
But it will take several months before the first pilot lots begin required human testing to ensure the vaccine is safe and effective.
“We think 600 million doses is achievable in a six-month time frame” from that fall start, Health and Human Services Assistant Secretary Craig Vanderwagen said.
“I don’t want anybody to have false expectations.
The science is challenging here,” Vanderwagen told reporters. “It’s a question of can we get the science worked on the specifics of this vaccine.”
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