Japan May Suspend Seasonal-Flu Shots To Produce Swine Flu Vaccine
This article was originally published in PharmAsia News
Executive Summary
Japan's Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry is considering a suspension of its national campaign to vaccinate against influenza this winter. The ministry says it may have to be ready to produce vaccines against the spreading swine flu. The decision involves purposefully reducing the supply of seasonal flu vaccines and possibly jeopardizing the lives of many people, particularly the elderly. Even if production does begin once the responsible strain is identified, production could take six months to begin and 18 months to make enough to inoculate the entire country. (Click here for more