U.S. taps $1 billion for swine flu vaccine

WASHINGTON, May 22 (UPI) -- About $1 billion has been allocated for clinical studies into two potential vaccine ingredients for a pandemic stockpile, U.S. government officials said.

Kathleen Sebelius, secretary of Health and Human Services, said that the department wants to prepare for potential commercial-scale production of a candidate vaccine for the novel Influenza A (H1N1).

The clinical studies will take place over the summer.

The funds will be used to place new orders on existing contracts with companies that hold U.S. licenses for flu vaccines. The orders would be for bulk supplies of vaccine antigen and adjuvant, Sebelius said.

Antigen is the active ingredient in a vaccine that causes the human body's immune system to develop antibodies to help fight an invading virus. Depending on the results of clinical studies, adjuvants could be added to a vaccine to improve the immune system's response and potentially to reduce the amount of antigen needed by the body to recognize and fight a virus.

Having both antigen and adjuvant on hand provides maximum flexibility in a future immunization program. For example, if needed these ingredients could be used in a vaccine to help protect health providers and other members of the critical workforce, as recommended by the National Strategy for Pandemic Influenza, Sebelius said.