The first vaccine trials for this year's swine flu, H1N1, have begun in Australia. The maker of the vaccine announced that the vaccine's effectiveness will be determined in six to eight weeks.
The H1N1 virus has become a global pandemic, with the swine flu killing more than 700 people worldwide. It has not been as virulent as first thought, however.
Two biotech companies, Adelaide-based Vaxine and Melbourne's CSL began trials this week. Vaxine began with 300 subjects on Monday, and CSL with 240 people on Wednesday. The companies state their trials are the first tests of a swine flu vaccine on humans.
The Australian government has already ordered 21 million doses of CSL's vaccine for use, should it be proven effective. The company expects that initial results will allow distribution of its vaccine in October.
Meanwhile, Vaxine's Nikolai Petrovsky told AP:
"There is no guarantee any of these vaccines will work. Swine flu is a very peculiar beast, it's a very different virus that we're dealing with. But we are hopeful."
It is, of course, possibly the virus will mutate as well, making any vaccine either impotent or less effective. Petrovsky said it would take six to eight weeks before they could verify the vaccine's effectiveness.
Comment and add to the story without registration, but keep the comments meaningful please. Links are not accepted.
