Swine flu vaccine expected in March

By Elizabeth Mwai

Health experts are meeting today to prepare for the arrival of the swine flu vaccine.

The vaccine donated by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and its partners is expected by end of March.

Public Health Head of Disease Control Willis Akhwale said yesterday the experts will discuss modalities of rolling out the vaccine to the most vulnerable groups.

"It will not be distributed as in a mass campaign but the experts will decide who will get it," said Dr Akhwale told The Standard.

The meeting is expected to come up with guidelines on how to regulate, distribute and store the vaccine.

The Government is in the process of registering the vaccine before it can be allowed into the country for use.

Among the experts will be representatives from Public Health, WHO, Centre for Disease Control and USAid.

Scientists have cautioned that if the H1N1 virus combines with the ordinary influenza, it may mutate into a deadlier strain.

Millions killed

The H1N1 flu could easily pass as a seasonal flu due to its mild nature, but experts warn that it could transform and become virulent.

Akhwale disclosed swine flu cases were still being reported countrywide but are reducing in number.

The doctor said 26 surveillance sites were still monitoring the H1N1 trend countrywide.

Swine flu has not claimed any lives in Kenya but officials have remained vigilant based on incidences in other countries.

Last year, WHO cautioned that the H1N1 flu pandemic might evolve to become like a similar flu outbreak experienced in 1918, which killed more than 50 million people in the world.

The Ministry of Public Health had last year written a Cabinet paper requesting additional funding of Sh270 million to aid in the management of the swine flu pandemic.