Leavitt applauds WHO vaccine grants

WASHINGTON, April 24 (UPI) -- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Wednesday praised the World Health Organization's decision to spend $15 million on flu vaccine.

The WHO said it would distribute the funds, $10 million of which came from the United States, in the form of grants to six countries to increase their vaccine manufacturing capacity.

"Should an influenza pandemic emerge, they will have the infrastructure in place to convert their production lines to manufacturing pandemic vaccine," said Health and Human Services Secretary Michael Leavitt.

The current global influenza vaccine manufacturing capacity is too limited to protect the world's 6 billion people, Leavitt said. The countries receiving the grants may eventually develop the capacity to export vaccine to their neighbors, he said.