No serious side effects were noted to date with the vaccines during campaigns, Dr. Keiji Fukuda, Special Advisor on Pandemic Influenza to Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), said, underlining his support for using innovative vaccines. Giving his assessment of the latest developments regarding the swine flu, Engin Güner, the Vice-Chairman of the Association of Research-Based Pharmaceutical Companies (AİFD), said "Respecting views of specialists in the field and of WHO is the appropriate thing to do. The value of innovation is better appreciated at critical times, such as this one, when human health is threatened".

Istanbul, November …, 2009. As influenza A(H1N1)v, commonly known as the swine flu, expands its global domination, international organizations and governments continue their efforts to fight the disease. Governments are implementing vaccination programs, prioritizing higher risk groups, using innovative vaccines developed by research-based pharmaceutical companies. Voicing his support for innovative vaccines, Dr. Feiji Fukuda, the Special Advisor on Pandemic Influenza to Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), urged governments to comply with the vaccination programs. Fukuda said that a total of 200 million doses of innovative vaccines ordered by the WHO would be distributed to the poorest countries in the world. Remarking on the ongoing debate on the issue, Engin Güner, the Vice-Chairman of the Association of Research-Based Pharmaceutical Companies (AİFD), said "Respecting views of specialists in the field and of the WHO is the appropriate thing to do. The value of innovation is better appreciated at critical times, such as this one, when human health is threatened."

Experts voice support for innovative vaccines

Developments qualify the swine flu as a pandemic, signifying that the disease is spreading across continents. According to WHO data, as of November 01, 2009, worldwide more than 199 countries have reported laboratory confirmed cases of influenza A(H1N1)v, including over 6000 deaths since the beginning of the pandemic. ¹

In Ukraine, one of the worst affected countries, as of November 02, 2009, 250,000 cases were reported nationwide, with 235 patients requiring intensive care and number of deaths climbing to 70. ²

Speaking to members of the press during a press meeting, Dr. Keiji Fukuda, the Special Advisor on Pandemic Influenza to Director-General of the WHO said that the best news from the pandemic was that no serious or unexpected side effects were yet seen, despite millions of vaccinations to date.

"The side effects seen have been what we normally see with the seasonal flu shots which are found to be at an acceptable level by authorities. We are urging governments to complywith vaccination programs and governments who are advised to undertake a vaccination campaign to not reject it. Under agreements with 11 governments and 4 vaccine manufacturers, the WHO is expecting to receive 200 million doses of the vaccine in donations to distribute them to about 95 of the poorest countries in the world."

Also, a statement by the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE), which advises WHO on matters related to the pandemic and guides policies of the international health agency on this issue, highlighted that majority of the cases reported involved adolescents and young adults. Consisting of international experts, the Group noted that children had the highest hospitalization rate, with 7 to 10% of all hospitalized patients being women in their 2nd or 3rd trimester of pregnancy. The side effects from the A(H1N1)v vaccine were at acceptable levels, said experts, resembling that seen with the seasonal influenza vaccine, with a single dose inducing a strong immune response in adults and in adolescents aged older than 10. ³

"Innovation enhances quality of life, creates value for human health"

"The value of innovation in the pharmaceutical industry is better appreciated at critical times, such as this one” said Engin Güner, Vice-Chairman of the AİFD, giving his assessment of the latest swine-flu developments.

"Innovation in medicine and in the pharmaceutical industry provides effective and value-adding solutions for health problems, while enhancing the quality of human life. The rapid development of a vaccine against the A(H1N1)v, a mutative influenza virus, despite the time constraints and making it available for the use of humanity is in fact an accomplishment of innovation. Adoption of national policies and strategies to support innovation shall open the way for our having a strong national pharmaceutical industry and a world-class health-care service."

Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 update 73 6.11.2009
http://www.who.int/csr/don/2009_11_06/en/index.html

² Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 Ukraine Update 1
http://www.who.int/csr/don/2009_11_03/en/index.html

³http://www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/notes/briefing_20091030/en/index.html