DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
News Release issued by COI News Distribution Service on
The first step
towards producing a European prototype of a swine flu vaccine has
been achieved by the Health Protection Agency (HPA), Health
Secretary Alan Johnson announced today.
On a visit to the HPA's National Institute of Biological
Standards and Control (NIBSC) this morning, Alan Johnson learnt
that researchers have sequenced the full genetic code of the
virus. This is critical in understanding how the virus operates
and identifying the crucial parts of the virus that can be used in
vaccine manufacture.
Researchers hope that European manufacturers will be able to take
delivery of candidate vaccine prototypes in the coming months so
preliminary steps to mass vaccine production can begin.
The NIBSC is the only centre in the UK and one of a handful
around the world developing vaccine prototypes for the European
vaccine manufacturers. In the US, efforts are focused through the
Centre for Disease Control.
In July 2007, the Government signed advanced supply agreements,
which will enable the UK to purchase up to 132 million doses of
pandemic specific vaccine, when it becomes available. The advanced
supply agreements are worth £155.4 million over four years. Under
these contracts, GSK and Baxter are committed to supplying a
pandemic influenza vaccine as soon as the pandemic strain is
identified and made available by the World Health Organization.
The HPA researchers will also work with sister organisations to
compare the characteristics of this virus with other samples to
gain a greater understanding of how flu infects people and how it
can quickly change to evade our immune systems.
Health Secretary Alan Johnson said:
"A significant step towards protecting the world's
health against swine flu has been taken.
"The speed with which vaccine prototypes can be created to
combat potential pandemics is testimony to the dedication and
world-class expertise of Health Protection Agency researchers.
"We have been preparing for the possibility of a pandemic
for some time. We now look to the vaccine industry to produce the
required quantities of vaccine as quickly as possible."
Professor Maria Zambon, Director of the Health Protection
Agency's Centre for Infections, said:
"We are continuing to learn more and more each day about
swine flu. The pure sample of virus that we have isolated,
together with its genetic fingerprint, will be important resources
as scientific organisations join forces on the development of an
effective vaccine.
"The rapid assessment of this virus will ultimately help us
to make future decisions regarding the health implications of
swine flu."
Ends
1. The Department of Health has set up a dedicated swine flu
information line for the public: 0800 1 513 513.
2. Under these advanced supply contracts, the Department of
Health has reserved production capacity for the manufacture of the
new vaccine and making an investment in R&D by the
manufacturers. This means that although the UK may not take
delivery of vaccine until after a pandemic has started, it will
nevertheless have a guaranteed supply of vaccine at a time when
there will be significant international demand. For the vaccine to
be fully effective, an individual is likely to need two doses.
3. Pandemic specific vaccines will not be available until 4-6
months after a pandemic virus has emerged and hence it may be of
limited use in the first wave of a pandemic. It is likely to be
over a year before all of the vaccine has been delivered. It
cannot be known in advance whether a pandemic will have one or
more waves.
4. The World Health Organization (WHO) has raised its pandemic
alert level to Phase 5. 'This is characterised by
human-to-human spread of the virus into at least two countries in
one WHO region. While most countries will not be affected at this
stage, the declaration of Phase 5 is a strong signal that pandemic
is imminent and that the time to finalise the organisation,
communication and implementation of the planned mitigation
measures is short'. The Agency is well prepared to meet the
requirements of phase 5.