H1N1 vaccine behind and perhaps too late because of old technology and no profit in changing
October 22, 2009
(ChattahBox) — The federal government originally promised 120 million doses of swine flu vaccine by now but only 13 million have actually been produced. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention officials say the antiquated process of developing vaccines using millions of chicken eggs is to blame for the slow production of the H1N1 influenza vaccine.
The technology, which dates back 50 years, involves injecting the virus into eggs and allowing it to feed on the egg white nutrients. The process is slow, and pressure on manufacturers to produce vaccines for both swine flu and ordinary flu has made it even slower. Many states have had to postpone mass vaccinations as clinics become swamped with high demand. Federal health officials are asking for patience and say eventually there should be enough vaccine. However a study by Purdue University researchers said the vaccinations will probably come too late to significantly reduce the number of infections. The study, published last week, predicted that infections would peak in late October and that by the end of the year, 63 percent of the U.S. population will have caught the virus. The U.S. government is funding newer technologies that hold the promise of a more reliable and expandable vaccine supply, but flu vaccines are not nearly as profitable as other kinds of drugs, and most of the biggest vaccine makers have little incentive to switch from a method with which they are familiar.
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They said the Swine flu was going to be a big deal back in the 70’s so the United States federal government made a flu vaccine. The only problem they did this based on 0 confirmed cases. I am linking to a site that has two 1976 interviews of the person that headed the Swine Flu for the U.S. http://www.personalgrowthcourses.net/video/swine_flu_vaccine_1
http://www.personalgrowthcourses.net/video/swine_flu_vaccine_2
[...] available precaution to deal with the H1N1 epidemic, the slow manufacturing process that requires growth of the virus in chicken eggs, has temporarily delayed the delivery of sufficient amounts of vaccine to the U.S. But, the process [...]