Ramping Up Vaccine Production
HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced the department will commit $884 million to purchase additional ingredients for H1N1 vaccines to further prepare the nation for a potential resurgence of the 2009 H1N1 virus.
The funds will be used to place additional orders for bulk H1N1 antigen and adjuvant on existing contracts with Sanofi Pasteur, MedImmune, GlaxoSmithKline and Novartis. The vaccine ingredients will become a part of the pandemic stockpile, for use if a vaccination campaign is necessary.
In May, Secretary Sebelius directed approximately $1 billion to be used for the development of a vaccine and for clinical studies to determine dose level and assess the safety and effectiveness of potential vaccines.
For more information, visit www.medicalcountermeasures.gov/BARDA/MCM/panflu/factsheet.aspx. For the latest on the 2009 Influenza A H1N1 virus, visit http://www.flu.gov/.