Infection Control

Vaccine availability could become a concern

Infection Control Weekly Monitor, July 22, 2009

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Pandemic preparedness experts have voiced the importance of having an H1N1 vaccine available during this year’s traditional flu season. However, some countries could have trouble gathering enough vaccines to support its population during a serious global pandemic, according to the Associated Press (AP).

Experts have said that governments may look to protect their own citizens first and foremost leaving behind countries such as the United States, which makes only 20 percent of the vaccines it uses, the AP reports.

Most of the world’s flu vaccines are made in Europe and many experts say politicians will be reluctant to ship out vaccines to other countries if their own people don’t have it.

“Pandemic vaccine will be a valuable and scarce resource, like oil or food during a famine,” David Fidler, a professor of law at Indiana University who has consulted for WHO told the AP. “We've seen how countries behave in those situations, and it's not encouraging.”



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