H1N1 flu shots ready by October?(Infectious diseases)(Brief article)

* H1N1 flu shots ready by October? Laboratories around the world are racing to produce a strain suitable for manufacturing vaccine. More than 52,000 people worldwide have been confirmed as infected with novel influenza A(H1N1) or swine flu at this writing. U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says a vaccine for H1N1 could be available as early as October--if vaccine production and testing run smoothly this summer. The government will review the safety and effectiveness of what is produced and decide if a vaccination campaign is warranted. The Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) says HHS will take the steps necessary to prepare for potential commercial-scale production of an influenza A(H1N1) vaccine. HHS is directing approximately $1 billion to be used for clinical studies and for commercial-scale production of vaccine ingredients.

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