WHO Vaccine - H5N1 Captain Trips?

The World Health Organization (WHO) has decided to stick with the strains of H5N1 avian influenza [virus] it chose in April 2004 for use in developing human vaccines against the virus, which many fear will trigger a flu pandemic.

The WHO stated that analyses of 2004 and 2005 human and animal strains of H5N1 viruses from affected countries "did not provide any convincing evidence to change" the strains previously recommended as vaccine prototypes.

The US government has contracted with 2 companies, Sanofi Pasteur and Chiron, to make prototype H5N1 vaccines. A government-sponsored clinical trial of the Sanofi vaccine was launched at 3 universities in March 2005.


Sanofi is under contract to make 2 million doses of vaccine as part of preparations for a possible pandemic.

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