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The news on vaccines isn't all bleak.
New technologies are being developed that will, in time, improve our ability to mass produce inoculations. Today, Europe approved the first cell-based vaccine technology.
Europe backs new cell-based flu shot from Novartis
Fri Apr 27, 2007 7:16AM EDT
By Ben Hirschler
LONDON, April 27 (Reuters) - A new kind of seasonal flu vaccine made in cell culture, rather than chicken eggs, and which could be quickly mass-produced in the event of a pandemic was endorsed by Europe's drugs watchdog on Friday.
The European Medicines Agency said it had given a positive opinion to Novartis AG's Optaflu, clearing the way for full European marketing approval within two or three months.
Optaflu marks the first major innovation in flu vaccine production in more than 50 years.
Experts have been encouraging drugmakers to develop more modern methods to make flu vaccines, in order to be able to scale up production rapidly. That is particularly important given the threat of a flu pandemic, which many fear could be triggered by bird flu.
Over the next few years, cell-based vaccine manufacturing has the potential to greatly increase our ability to produce vaccines quickly. This technology has not been approved in the United States, but an application for approval will likely be made next year.
Gearing up to produce vaccines in this fashion will take time, it won't happen over night.
Still, it is a step forward.
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