H1N1 flu vaccine for SA
2009-08-12 11:38
Special Report
Once a total of 100 cases of swine flu have been confirmed in South Africa, authorities will stop the individual laboratory confirmation of cases, the Department of Health says.
Find out all you need to know about H1N1 or Swine Flu from the team at Health24.
Johannesburg - An H1N1 swine flu vaccine could be available by November, a health official said in a report published on Wednesday.
"If things go according to plan, indications are that the new vaccine will be available in November this year, and if not, the vaccine should be available early next year," said Frew Benson, cluster manager of communicable diseases at the health department.
Business Day newspaper said his statement came after a commitment by pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline to produce a vaccine against H1N1.
GlaxoSmithKline said it would produce up to 195 million doses of the vaccine.
The National Institute for Communicable Diseases confirmed South Africa's third H1N1 flu death on Tuesday.
More than 1 000 cases have been recorded in South Africa so far.
Worldwide, the World Health Organisation has reported 1462 swine flu deaths and nearly 180 000 cases in some 170 countries.
- Click here for FAQ about the H1N1 virus, and here for a map of how it is spreading across the country.
- SAPA