China approved domestic influenza A / H1N1 vaccine

The Chinese Food and Drug Administration yesterday approved the domestic influenza A / H1N1 vaccine, produced by Sinovac, and only needed a single dose.

" Sinovac's Vaccine H1N1 is officially accepted ", in charge of the registry of the Chinese Food and Drug Administration (SFDA), Zhang Wei, told reporters.

" Clinical trials completed with Beijing Sinovac vaccine show that this is a safe drug ," a short statement issued by the SFDA registry emphasizes.

Zhang said the SFDA is considering an application for approval from nine other companies developing vaccines against influenza A / H1N1, and may make a decision in mid-September.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned of the possibility of a vaccine against the flu when winter - also a flu season - comes close to the northern hemisphere.

Disinfection medical staff at a school that appears to have students infected with flu in China(Photo: AP)

Dozens of pharmaceutical companies around the world are in the race to test, produce and ship vaccines before a global pandemic enters the second wave, which is expected to be much more dangerous.

According to WHO statistics, at least 2,185 people died of influenza A / H1N1 virus. This virus is almost everywhere in the world.

Sinovac said their products are effective after taking only one dose. If the statement is proven, this is a breakthrough, when most scientists calculate that two doses of vaccine are needed for each person to prevent influenza.

The Chinese government plans to vaccinate 65 million people - equivalent to 5% of the 1.3 billion population - before this year ends. Britain and France received the first batch of vaccine against A / H1N1 flu late last month.