CDC has not released the swine flu vaccine seeds yet. Some big companies such as Sanofi Pasteur and Glixo Smith-Kline had the tender of A/H1N1 2009 vaccine production, which is going to be in market in a few months.
This is a strange news from Palembang, mentioning vaccination of swine flu to people with fluarix. Fluarix is known as a seasonal influenza vaccine, but not for novel A/H1N1 2009 (swine flu). For information about fluarix here. adm.
Palembang, South Sumatera – Total 270 employees of PT Unilever and their family, received swine flu or Mexico flu vaccination yesterday (25/5).
Dr Msy Mutmainah – one of the doctor who gave vaccination – explained that this vaccination was requested by Unilever company. Vaccine given was fluarix.
“So far, only this company is requesting vaccination. They have agreement with one of pharmaceutical distributor. One dose of this vaccine costs 150 thousands rupiah (about 15 USD. –adm-).
This fluarix vaccine, said Mutmainah, could promote immunity, in particular to swine flu virus infection.
“But this is prohibited for pregnant women and children below 3 years age. There is no side effect after vaccination, similar like immunization for toddlers”, explained Mutmainah.
Meanwhile, the Customer Development Assistant (CD) Finance PT Unilever, Kuntri Sukwati explained that this vaccination had been done to all employees and their family of PT Unilever all over Indonesia.
“We have done this since few days ago. Previously, 115 people have been vaccinated. Now 115 more people are vaccinated, so in total 270 people. This program will be continued next 28 May”, she added.
Kuntri also mentioned that PT Unilever had similar vaccination program to employees and family when bird flu was spreading. “This is an effort of the company to maintain the health of employees and their family”, she said.
Rahmat – one of family member of PT Unilever’s employees – expressed his enthusiasm of this vaccination program. “Swine flu disease is frightening. This vaccination, at least will give us immunity and less susceptible to swine flu infection”, he said.
Source: Indonesia local newspaper, Palembang Pos. http://plgpos.blogspot.com/2009/05/ratusan-orang-divaksin-flu-babi.html
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