France: Obligatory vaccinations for everyone by this Autumn!

[Jack]

Swine Flu Vaccine Nearly Ready 16/06/09

[Posted: Tue 16/06/2009]

A pharmaceutical company says it is in full-scale production of a commercial swine flu virus.

Baxter International says it has completed testing and evaluation of the A/H1N1 influenza virus, having received a strain of the virus from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

It says it is "diligently working" to deliver a pandemic vaccine for use by next month.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, has provided the H1N1 strain to a number of drug companies with a view to fast-tracking a swine flu vaccine.

The World Health Organization recently raised its pandemic global alert level to phase 6, the highest level.

Worldwide, at least 145 people have now died as a result of swine flu.

Deaths have occurred in Mexico, the US, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic Guatemala, and the first death was recently recorded in the UK.

Almost 30,000 people have been confirmed as having the virus in 74 countries. Twelve cases have been confirmed in Ireland and eight cases in Northern Ireland.