AS SWINE flu’s death toll rises, so does demand for a vaccine. The trouble is, the strains produced so far are growing half as fast as ordinary vaccine strains, which means they may not be ready in time for the flu’s next wave.
Vaccine companies are obliged to first fill existing pandemic vaccine contracts with countries such as the UK, Australia and France. Only then can they make vaccine for everyone else.
How quickly vaccine can be made depends on how fast vaccine strains grow and how much is needed. The World Health Organization that existing contracts can…
