Jul 13, 2009
US to spend another $1 billion on H1N1 vaccines
The United States will order another $1 billion worth of pandemic H1N1 influenza vaccine, Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said yesterday, according to Reuters. "There'll be another $1 billion worth of orders placed to get the bulk ingredients for an H1N1 vaccination," Sebelius told CNN, without naming the suppliers. Sebelius had announced on May 22 that HHS would spend about $1 billion to buy vaccine antigen and adjuvant and fund clinical studies.
[Jul 12 Reuters story]
Lurie OK'd as new HHS preparedness head
HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced today that the US Senate unanimously confirmed Nicole Lurie, MD, MSPH, as assistant secretary for preparedness and response. Lurie most recently worked for the Rand Corporation and with federal officials and state and local health departments on pandemic preparedness and other public health issues. Sebelius said in today's release that Lurie's "knowledge and expertise will be essential" as the country coordinates its national response to the H1N1 virus.
[Jul 13 HHS news release]
Botswana confirms first novel flu case
Botswana's health ministry on Jul 10 confirmed the country's first novel flu case, Mmegi, a Botswana newspaper, reported today. Confirmatory tests were conducted in South Africa. The patient, who is one of three people with suspected cases, has been isolated at a clinic, and the ministry is tracing his contacts. The health minister said oseltamivir (Tamiflu) will be available to those in high-risk groups and those who have respiratory infections.
[Jul 13 Mmegi story]
CSL set to launch human trial of H1N1 vaccine
Australia-based flu vaccine maker CSL Ltd said today that it expects to launch a human trial of its novel H1N1 vaccine Jul 22, Bloomberg News reported. In a Jun 29 press release, CSL said it would undertake the trial with a research group in Adelaide and was seeking healthy adults aged 18 to 64 to enroll in the study to compare two injections of a standard dose, administered 3 weeks apart, with a higher dosage. The Australian government has ordered enough vaccine to immunize 10 million people.
[Jul 13 Bloomberg News story]
