Yaung lauds locally-produced H1N1 vaccine

But Health Minister Yaung Chih-liang admitted he is not in the position at present to give a formal opinion until clinical trial results are reviewed by the Bureau of Pharmaceutical Affairs, wrote the United Evening News.

His remarks came after reports that the vaccine produced by sole local vaccine manufacturer Adimmune Corp. is able to produce a robust immune response in human subjects.

Ho Mei-hsiang, head of biotechnology research at Adimmune, was cited as saying that she is thrilled with the results garnered by the clinical studies, although acknowledging she could not speak on behalf of the company.

From an immunological standpoint, this is an excellent vaccine that is comparable to those purchased from Novartis, exclaimed Ho.

Residents can be well-reassured that Adimmune's shots are safe and effective, she added.

As previously reported, this is the first time Taiwan is manufacturing its own vaccine.

The government procured 15 million vaccine shots, 10 million from Adimmune and another five million from Swiss pharmaceutical company Novartis.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has said that a single dose of vaccine produced by Novartis can develop a protective immune response of 70 percent in elderly people and as much as 90 percent in young, healthy adults.

Ho also reminded that Adimmune's vaccine, unlike those made abroad, does not include adjuvants, chemical agents used to stretch active ingredient to increase efficiency of the vaccine.

There is limited data on the safe use of vaccines with such additives in pregnant women and children, two of the high-risk groups amid the swine flu epidemic.

Parents should ensure that there is no cross-administering of vaccine shots from different manufacturers, Ho said, referring to the two mandatory shots required by children nine and younger.

Class Suspensions Jump

As the novel virus reemerges in communities amid cooler temperatures, the number of suspended classes recorded the largest single-day jump since implementation of the class suspension policy, local media reported.

Six hundred thirty nine classes were canceled yesterday, over 100 more than the reported figure the previous day, said the United Evening News. The same statistic had previously hovered for weeks at around 300, wrote the paper.

A spike in the number of A(H1N1) infected students was also observed, with 11,597 confirmed cases as of Tuesday morning.

According to the Ministry of Education (MOE), given approaching midterm exams, many affected students have opted to assume normal academic schedules after seeking medical care.

Regarding media reports of 10 students from Ren-ai Elementary in Taipei City testing positive for the novel virus in less than three days, with none allegedly having contracted the flu in the classroom, MOE Physical Education Department Director Wang Chun-chuan was cited as saying that it is impossible that all of the children caught the flu from home.

Schools are not responsible for the reporting of A(H1N1) cases that are contracted off-campus.

Hepatitic Man Dies

Health authorities yesterday confirmed the latest A(H1N1) swine flu-related death involving a man with a pre-existing condition.

The victim, a 54-year-old male, who had suffered from hepatitis and undergone dialysis in the past, died of respiratory failure after contraction of the novel flu, said the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC).

This brings the death toll to 25, the CECC said.

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