Influenza A (H1N1) vaccine candidate strains on way to manufacturers

Vaccine candidate virus strains of influenza A (H1N1) have been shipped to several U.S. manufacturers and are expected to be shipped to manufacturers in other countries in the coming days, according to a CDC official.

Anne Schuchat, MD, director of CDC's National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, said health officials produced the vaccine candidate strains using egg-based and reverse-genetic technologies, but she cautioned that there are several steps that need to take place before a vaccine can be brought to market. Manufacturers need to develop bulk antigens and adjuvants as well as conduct clinical trials, which are expected this summer.

Late last week, Health and Human Services officials announced they had set aside $1 billion for testing of the first pilot doses and stockpiling of these vaccine ingredients.

Also, numerous studies have been published in the past week analyzing the genetic history of the novel virus. CDC researchers writing in Science magazine noted the immediate ancestors to this swine flu may have been circulating undetected in pigs for years.

Schuchat said that this virus is behaving somewhat similarly to seasonal H1N1 viruses, in that it seems to be more common in younger populations. Twelve patients in the United States have died from this virus and there have been 507 hospitalizations. Most of these patients are in the 5-to 24-year-age group and most have had underlying medical conditions, she said. WHO officials are reporting about 13,000 confirmed cases of the novel influenza in 46 countries, as of this week.

Schuchat said CDC and WHO officials are carefully monitoring what is occurring in the southern hemisphere, as the situation there may provide some clues as to what to expect here in the fall.

Schuchat said in the coming months, health officials are looking at several types of media to spread the word about reducing illness – from social networking sites to poster campaigns in doctor’s offices.

Last week, HHS officials announced a partnership with the Ad Council and Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit educational organization behind Sesame Street, to launch a national public service advertising campaign designed to encourage people to protect themselves from the 2009 H1N1. As part of the campaign, Sesame Workshop produced a television PSA featuring Sesame Street’s Elmo and Gordon explaining the importance of healthy habits such as practicing good hand hygiene, avoiding touching eyes, nose and mouth and sneezing into the bend of your arm.