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WHO Reassessing Vaccine Distribution Needs

 

 

# 4226

 

 

What a difference six months makes.

 

Last summer, when the WHO (World Health Organization) had just declared the start of the 2009 pandemic, countries all around the world were clamoring for what was obviously going to be a limited amount of vaccine. 


Fast forward to the end of 2009, and the demand for the vaccine is visibly softening.   Countries that ordered on the basis of expecting to need two doses for each adult, and higher uptake by their populations, are now trying to cut back on those orders.

 

And even developing countries that once coveted the scarce vaccine are beginning to have second thoughts.

 

This report from Helen Branswell of the Canadian Press.  As always with a Branswell article, follow the link to read it in its entirety.

 

 

WHO-led H1N1 vaccine redistribution may be scaled back as countries reassess need

By Helen Branswell Medical Reporter (CP)

TORONTO — Softening demand for H1N1 vaccine may be spreading to a World Health Organization-led effort to provide developing countries with some pandemic vaccine, a WHO official said Tuesday.

 

Dr. Marie-Paule Kieny said some recipient countries appear to be reassessing how much donated H1N1 vaccine they want because of shifting perceptions of the benefits of using significant amounts of vaccine at this point.

 

The WHO had hoped to provide vaccine for up to 10 per cent of the populations of developing countries that wanted donated vaccine. But whether recipient countries want that much vaccine at this point isn't clear, "in view of the trend of the epidemic."

 

"And it's normal. There is a need for reassessment of what the epidemiology is telling us," Kieny said in an interview from Geneva.

 

"Of course we cannot rule out that there will be another peak. And we don't know exactly what will happen in the Southern Hemisphere when they start (their next winter) also."

 

(Continue . . . )

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