Swine Flu Vaccine Meeting

As swine flu cases now top 6,600 worldwide, vaccine makers and other experts met yesterday at the World Health Organization (WHO) to discuss the tough decisions that must be made quickly in order to fight the evolving swine flu virus.

Pharmaceutical companies are said to be ready to begin making a swine flu vaccine — but there are concerns, especially given that the virus may mutate, so many questions abound: For e.g. how much of the swine flu vaccine should be produced? How will it be distributed? Who should get it? etc.

The group’s recommendations will be passed on to WHO Director-General Margaret Chan, who is expected to issue advice to vaccine manufacturers and the World Health Assembly next week.