GENEVA — The World Health Organization urged drugmakers to reserve some of their swine-flu vaccine for poor countries but received few concrete offers Tuesday as experts disclosed that an effective flu shot is still months away.
The global body wants companies to donate at least 10 percent of their production or to offer cut rates for poor countries that could otherwise be left without vaccines if there is a sudden surge in demand. But some are skeptical about what such a commitment could mean for their business.
“I don’t think that all of the answers are there yet,” said Swiss pharmaceutical giant Novartis AG spokesman Eric Althoff.
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon, who met with 30 major pharmaceutical manufacturers, called for global solidarity in confronting the virus. Solidarity “must mean that all have access to drugs and vaccines,” he added.
Swine flu has been confirmed in 9,830 people in more than 40 countries, killing at least 83. Taiwan reported its first confirmed case today.
The impact of a pandemic — a global epidemic — is expected to be worse in poor countries, where people with other diseases such as AIDS and malaria are more susceptible to swine flu and national health systems are less able to respond.
Manufacturers won’t be able to start making the vaccine until mid-July at the earliest, weeks later than previous predictions, according to a panel convened by WHO. It will then take months to produce it in large quantities.
On Tuesday, The Washington Post reported that a survey of those hospitalized with swine flu in California has raised the possibility that obesity is as much of a risk factor for serious complications from the flu as diabetes, heart disease and pregnancy.
Nationwide, 48 states have reported 5,469 cases and six U.S. deaths since the start of the outbreak, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. On Tuesday, Missouri officials reported a seventh U.S. death, a 44-year-old man who had no underlying medical problems.
