Vaccination is one of the most effective ways to minimize suffering and death from flu. However, there is currently no vaccine available to protect humans against
the current influenza threat.
Once a virus emerges and scientists isolate that virus, production of effective vaccine can begin. Vaccine will be in short supply at the start of a pandemic;
more vaccine will become available within four to six months. Even though the exact pandemic virus has not emerged, scientists are making and testing possible
vaccines to determine if they work against bird flu.
There is also research into effective antiviral medicines, seeking medications that can effectively reduce the severity of an influenza attack. Antiviral
medicines can only be used once a person exhibits symptoms of the flu. Antiviral medicines will be in short supply at the start of a pandemic. The federal
government is stockpiling antiviral medicines in the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS), and Ohio received a portion of its share in late April, 2009.
Last Updated April 30, 2009
home
contact webmaster
privacy policy
publication library
Files require Acrobat Reader 7.0
Files require
Windows Media Player 10 |
National Institutes of Health Q & A on H5N1 Vaccine Trials
