NC Healthcare Coverage Blog

China claims that it is getting close to approving some swine flu vaccines that are homegrown. Manufacturers are saying that these vaccines could protect people with just one dose. This is good news for health officials who are racing to get ready for any sharp increases in cases this winter.

If these claims of an effective, one dose vaccine end up being true, experts believe China’s versions could escalate worldwide efforts to fight the virus.

Initially, most health authorities believed that two doses would be necessary to provide complete protection against the new H1N1 virus. A single-dose vaccine could mean that producers could disperse supplies to more people faster.

After details of trials of one of the two Chinese vaccines was reviewed, the World Health Organization was optimistic. This said, more test results were needed from other vaccine makers worldwide to make sure that one dose would be strong enough.

According to China’s State Food and Drug Administration, there are at least two vaccines that are close to being approved after clinical trials were finished last month and after passing reviews by panels of around 40 experts. There are another four vaccines that are also being reviewed.

The clinical trials from the vaccine makers, Sinovac, Biotech and Hualan Biological Engineering, revealed that the vaccines were effective in single doses when they were used on people from age 3 to 60.

The U.S. is expected to reveal initial trial results from its vaccine, which is the same type as China’s Sinovac version. Dr. Anthony Fauci, from the National Institutes of Health, says these results are expected in around two weeks. He is overseeing American swine-flu vaccine tests.

If China exports these vaccines, there is the concern about quality. Even though China is worldwide manufacturing center for pharmaceuticals, suppliers have  sometimes substituted cheaper and sometimes even lethal ingredients. Central America reported that tainted cough syrup caused several deaths. In recent years, the U.S. has had dozens of deaths caused from contaminated blood thinners.