A new avian influenza vaccine from Hungary will be permitted for use starting at the end of March next year, according to Hungary’s Health Minister Jeno Racz during a press conference yesterday in Budapest. Russia has also announced plans to test its flu vaccine in November. Minister Jeno Racz stated that although no cases of avian influenza have been reported in Hungary to date, the process of obtaining permission for the vaccine’s use must still proceed as a precaution. Last week, Hungary announced successful trials of the vaccine, as all volunteer test subjects developed antibodies against the virus.
In Russia, an avian influenza vaccine has been available since March 2005, according to the director of the influenza research institute in Saint Petersburg.
Oleg Kiselyev noted that this November, the vaccine will be tested on 20 volunteer subjects, with the trial expected to conclude next month. If successful, the first batch of the vaccine will be produced.
He mentioned that the greatest risk during this human trial is that participants could develop a fever up to 38°C. However, if the vaccine achieves a satisfactory response in only 3.5% of the volunteers, it will not be approved for use.
TRẦN ĐỨC THÀNH (According to AP, Mosnews)