The World Health Organization (WHO) will send 1.2 million doses of ArepanrixTM A/H1N1 vaccine to Vietnam from now until February 2010.
The WHO representative office in Vietnam said on Dec. 9 that ArepanrixTM vaccine produced by GlaxoSmithKline in Canada was tested by the WHO based on a standard protocol and information on vaccine safety and quality provided in the dossier. The WHO also emphasized the need to vaccinate people against A/H1N1 flu. The risk of vaccine reactions may occur but is much smaller than the risk of contracting A/H1N1 flu which high-risk groups are more likely to suffer. The WHO received donation pledges for about 180 million doses. GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) pledged 50 million doses and Sanofi Pasteur 100 million doses. The current pledges will cover about 10% of total population in 95 low- to middle-income countries identified.
