A vaccine supplier is poised to release much-needed flu vaccines — delayed by formulation problems earlier in the year — and only needs the go-ahead from the Medicines Control Council (MCC).
”We have all the flu vaccines in South Africa ready to sell. If we receive authorisation from the MCC, we can provide all the vaccines needed,” the MD of Sanofi Pasteur, Stephen Alix, said on Wednesday.
Earlier this year, a vaccine shortage began when the company’s 2005 southern-hemisphere flu vaccine, branded as Vaxigrip or Mutagrip, was found to be under-formulated due to a miscalculation.
The under-formulation was related to uncertainty about the efficacy of one of the three virus strains in the vaccine, the A/Wellington strain, and fresh trials were conducted in Australia to support the company’s belief that the vaccine will work.
Sanofi has already brought the vaccines into South Africa and is storing them in a warehouse.
”We are just crossing our fingers and waiting,” Alix said.
MCC chairperson Peter Eagles confirmed that a committee is examining that data but could not say when a decision will be announced.
”We realise the problem in the country, so we are obviously trying to speed this up,” he said.
A large wholesale chemist, L’Etangs in Durban, said it has already run out of stocks.
”We have heard that only one company [Sanofi] might be able to supply us. We had hoped to have news last night [Tuesday],” buyer and pharmacist Margrit von Puttkammer said.
The shortages set off by the Sanofi crisis were exacerbated by a crisis at another large foreign laboratory, Chiron in the United Kingdom, where production was suspended.
Medical expert Andrew Jamieson said there has only been ”one or two” isolated cases of flu so far, as the cold weather has not set in yet.
”It doesn’t look like a particularly severe season, but it is too early to tell,” he said.
Symptoms to look out for include a fever of more than 38,5 degrees Celsius, sore muscles, headaches and stuffiness.
”You just can’t keep going and you must go to bed,” Jamieson said.
Meanwhile, pharmacists are recommending alternatives to the vaccine, such as vitamins, to those vulnerable to the virus.
The vaccine can take at least six weeks to help the body fight off the flu virus. — Sapa