The vaccine comes just in time for the second wave of the virus One of the UK’s swine flu vaccines has at last been given the green light by the European drugs regulator. The news comes ahead of predictions that a second wave of the virus is likely to hit as winter approaches. A panel of experts agreed that Pandemrix, made by GlaxoSmithKline, is suitable for use in adults and children over six months old, as well as pregnant women. In light of the decision the immunisation programme is one step closer to getting under way, although licensing does still need to be formalised. The UK has purchased 60 million doses of the vaccine, with hopes that official vaccinations can begin sometime next month. Additionally, there are contracts for an as yet unapproved vaccine, Celvapan, produced by Baxter. Ultimately, this will mean the UK has enough doses for every person in the country. The European Commission is expected to give final marketing authorisation for the drugs “shortly”. Experts had prepared for a pandemic by developing “mock-ups” of the vaccine which were tested in 6,000 people. This meant the approval process encountered few delays, with manufacturers working quickly to add the swine flu H1N1 strain to the mock versions. Early trial data had indicated good immune responses with just one dose of the vaccine. Priority for the vaccine has been given to high-risk individuals and front-line NHS staff. A spokesman for the Department of Health said, “This is a welcome step forward in our plans for tackling swine flu - but we are still dependant on production and delivery of sufficient vaccine to start protecting people.” ADD YOUR COMMENT *Name: Company name: *Email: Comment: Remember my personal information Notify me of follow-up comments? Please enter the word you see in the image below: