Free A1/H1N1 vaccines in 2010

PANAMA. The Panamanian government is going to buy enough A1/H1N1 vaccines to inoculate the whole population and it is expected that they will be available at the beginning of next year.

The Health Minister, Franklyn Vergara said the vaccines would be supplied to all citizens free of charge, because it is the responsibility of the State to keep the population healthy.

Vergara said that the countries in region are getting together to buy the vaccinations in bulk to reduce the price. Currently there have been 622 confirmed cases of A1/H1N1 in Panama and so far three people have died, the last one was in the Veraguas province. Another person from Veraguas, who presented serious symptoms has been hospitalized.

The Ministry is also investigating the case of a 22 year old pregnant woman who died of respiratory problems after being in two hospitals. Tests are underway to determine the cause of death.

Vergara said that it too early to say if the patient’s death was medical negligence or if she was infected with the A1/H1N1 virus.

Meanwhile, DNA-based vaccine maker Inovio Biomedical Corp said it will jointly develop universal influenza vaccines, including that for H1N1 swine flu strains, with the National Institutes of Health's (NIH) research unit.

Biomedical and NIH's Vaccine Research Centre (VRC) will pool technologies to develop and advance vaccine candidates to provide broader protective capabilities against emerging new strains.