COVERITLIVE.COM

11:06

Kieny begins with a simple thought: "It would be critically important to have a vaccine if you want to stop a pandemic."

Then, she adds, research shows there is little chance that current seasonal vaccines would have any effect on this new virus.

11:08

"We have no doubt that making a successful vaccine is possible in a relatively short time," Kieny says, thanks to experience in developing them for similar strains.

11:12

But a "relatively short time" is ... relative.

"The starting material for making the vaccine will be ready" by the middle or end of May, Kieny says.

But then, manufacturers will need to "fine-tune it," human tests will need to be conducted and "national regulatory authorities" will need to approve the vaccine.

"It will take between four and six months" from the time the virus is isolated (as it has been) to the vaccine being available, she predicts.

11:15

Should there be a scramble to create a vaccine for a flu that may not be that deadly?

It would be "too much of a gamble with public health to say 'let's see' " and wait to determine for sure how serious the strain is, she says.

11:20

Are researchers sure that the virus that has killed people in Mexico is the same virus as is appearing elsewhere?

The strains that have shown up in different countries are "more than 99%" identical, Kieny says.

11:22

Kieny says that "it's really too early to know how much" the vaccine will cost. But authorities are working to make sure it will be available to people in the world's poorest nations. And she is "confident" the cost will not be "that high" and that there will be money available for purchasing the vaccine.

11:26

Even if the virus starts out mild and then turns severe, Kieny says, "in all cases, a vaccine that would match this virus ... would be protective against infection."

11:29

According to Kieny, "the capacity for seasonal (flu) vaccine is around 700 million doses per year." She predicts that 1 billion doses of seasonal and "pandemic" flu vaccines could be available within a year.

11:35

How long does it take for a vaccination to be effective?

"You are not protected immediately," Kieny says. "It takes a few days or months. ... In this case, the best estimate is that it would be around two or three weeks."

She also says there's a possibility that it may take two shots per person -- spread out over a couple weeks -- to provide full immunization against this virus.

11:39

Related news:

The Department of Homeland Security says that Secretary Janet Napolitano and Department of Education Secretary Arne Duncan will hold a news conference at 3 p.m. ET today. "Secretary Duncan will clarify guidelines for schools," HHS says in a statement e-mailed to reporters.

Page 1 Next >