WHO prepares H1N1 vaccines for developing countries

GENEVA-The World Health Organization has launched a program to give H1N1 flu vaccines to nearly 100 developing countries, with the first ones receiving the shots soon, its vaccine expert said on Friday.
Marie-Paule Kieny, head of vaccine research at the U.N. health body, said a group of 16 countries was being contacted and should shortly receive enough vaccines to inoculate up to 2 percent of the population.The countries were recommended to vaccinate health care workers first, she told a news conference.
Eventually the WHO would supply 95 developing countries with a view to immunizing over 10 percent of their population against pandemic H1N1, widely known as swine flu.
WHO has received donations of 156 million doses of vaccine from four manufacturers or governments, and hoped to reach the 200 million dose level needed to help 95 countries, she said.
Donor governments are also helping with syringes, needles, other equipment and finance...

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