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5 million doses of H1N1 vaccine to be available in Australia next week

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-09-24 14:58

CANBERRA: Australia's Federal Health Minister Nicola Roxon on Thursday urged Australians to contact their doctors from September 30 to access the first batch of the A/H1N1 flu vaccine.

The first 5 million doses of A/H1N1 flu vaccine will be available to Australians next week but children under 10 will have to wait until at least October.

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Trials are underway at the Melbourne-basavaied manufacturer CSL to ensure the vaccine is safe in children.

The paediatric vaccine is expected to be available sometime in October, after trials are completed and approved by the Therapeutic Goods Association.

"We are urging all Australians particularly who are aged 10 and over to consider being vaccinated," Roxon told reporters.

"We expect to get 21 million doses of the vaccine provided by January next year," she said.

The A$100-million (US$87 million) program to develop a A/H1N1 flu vaccine in Australia produced a vaccine. Its maker said it was expected to have a 95 percent success rate on adults.