WHO: May not be enough H1N1 vaccine

GENEVA, Switzerland, July 15 (UPI) -- The spread of H1N1 flu is considered unstoppable, so the swine flu vaccine will be needed in all countries, the World Health Organization in Switzerland said.

The Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization, which advises WHO on global policies and strategies, reviewed the current pandemic situation, the current status of seasonal vaccine production, the potential H1N1 flu vaccine production capacity and potential options for vaccine use. It is expected there will be limited vaccine availability at the global level, officials with the organization said.

The severity of the pandemic currently is considered moderate with most patients experiencing uncomplicated, self-limited illness. But some groups, such as pregnant women and people with asthma and other chronic conditions such as morbid obesity, appear to be at increased risk for severe disease and death from infection, the experts said. Several hundred people have died of swine flu worldwide since the outbreak started in Mexico this spring.

SAGE recommends all countries should immunize their healthcare workers as a first priority to protect the essential health infrastructure. Countries need to determine their order of priority for the vaccine based on country-specific conditions: pregnant women; those age 6 months and older with one of several chronic medical conditions; healthy young adults of 15-49 years of age; healthy children; healthy adults of 50-64 years of age; and healthy adults of 65 years of age and above, SAGE advises.