Europe Will Speed Up The Approval Of A New A/H1N1 Influenza Vaccine

2009-09-14 09:50:03   

In order to ensure that people inoculate with A/H1N1 influenza vaccine before the arrival of the winter influenza season, a number of European countries said that they would conduct rapid approval of a new influenza vaccine. This has led some experts’ worry that too hasty vetting process can’t guarantee the vaccine's safety and accuracy of dose.



The new A/H1N1 influenza vaccines in the rapid approval process conducted by European Medicines Agency, may receive the approval documents issued by EMA in a few weeks. United Kingdom, Greece, France, Sweden, and other European countries have said that once the vaccine is approved, they would use it for clinical application immediately.



Dr. Keiji Fukuda, head of WHO influenza prevention and control department, warned that there are many potential risks associated with the approval of this vaccine, during his interview with the Associated Press. He stressed: "The safety of vaccine is a very important issue which can’t be ignored during the vetting process. Some procedures can be omitted for rapid approval, but some important procedures must be done."



The influenza vaccine has been used for 40 years, and many experts said that this new influenza vaccine against A/H1N1 influenza doesn’t need for extensive testing, because it just has one more new composition.



Although the officers of EMA have little knowledge of that whether this vaccine will induce some rare adverse reactions after millions of people vaccinate with it, they still agreed that it is worth to take the risk for the aim of saving lives.

---from www.sinopharm.com

 

 

 

 

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