Pandemic distribution of H1N1 influenza vaccine

In previous post, we talked about H1N1 virus flu that could be defined as pandemic. In June 2009, the director general of World Health Organization declared that influenza A pandemic reached the phase 6, so the virus was diffused on global scale. From June to now, great efforts have been done by pharmaceutical companies to set up a vaccine and produce it in really high amount in order to satisfy the global need. Several problems will be encountered when vaccine will have to be sold and distributed.

Firstly, rich and poor countries have the same necessity for this vaccine, but of course different financial availability. It could be important that regulatory office will allow an equal and fair distribution of the vaccine and that rich countries will contribute to cover costs also for poor countries. Secondarily, mass vaccination campaign will have to be organized to reach most of the population: in this case poor countries are facilitated because other campaigns, for instance versus malaria or polio, are now in progress, while rich countries need to start from the beginning. Last but not least, it’s important to consider if we are ready to face this flu and if manufacturers can produce enough vaccine for all people. We hope that vaccine will be available for all at the moment of the crisis.