Maintain pressure on reforms to protect NHSSwine flu: one dose of vaccine may be enough
Research has indicated that a single dose of the swine flu vaccine is sufficient to protect people against the virus.
A strong immune response was recorded during GlaxoSmithKline’s (GSK) first trial of its injection, which will be used in the UK.
Vaccines to protect the entire British population against swine flu with two doses each have been ordered by the Government from GSK and another company, Baxter.
A GSK statement said results revealed that one dose can “provide a strong immune response”, surpassing requirements set by authorities that will license the vaccine.
A clinical trial in Germany involved 130 healthy volunteers aged 18 to 60.
More than 98% receiving the vaccine, with an adjuvant, had an adequate immune response three weeks after getting their jab.
A vaccine adjuvant helps boost immune response to the main virus as well as strains that could develop out of it.
Jean Stephenne, president of GSK Biologicals, said: ‘This trial provides encouraging data on the potential use of a single dose of our pandemic vaccine.
“We have shared this data with both regulatory authorities and governments who are making key decisions on urgent global public healthcare at this time.
“Our next step is to complete this trial, as well as 15 other studies in our clinical development programme for the vaccine.”
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