Researchers are also looking into newer flu vaccine techniques for more effective coverage. According to US Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, We have never been in a stronger position to create new and better vaccines. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, part of the National Institutes of Health also believes that the pandemic served to bring the technology of influenza vaccine development and manufacture into the 21st century. Fauci also said that there has been a partnership with Novartis in building a cell-based flu vaccine production unit in North Carolina. It will be a gradual process," he said. "In the next year or so, you will be seeing some of these recombinant products ready to be used in humans, he said.

Surplus of spoiling vaccines

In another development the British Columbian government is looking to recover at least some of the $20-million swine flu vaccines that are spoiling before their expiry dates and have to be disposed. There are a surplus of 2.5 million doses that were promised to last one and a half year and are spoiling at six months. The government is in talks with manufacturer GlaxoSmithKline about recovering some of the cost. B.C. Health Living Minister Ida Chong said in a statement on Wednesday, We're working to see what we can do to find out if there is any kind of recovery .No one wants to see unused vaccines discarded in this way. Certainly no-one would have expected this, but it was a very novel virus. There were a little over 1000 cases of swine flu in B.C. last year and according to Chong, It was important that we ordered enough vaccine for all British Columbians, which is what we did.

B.C.'s chief medical health officer, Dr. Perry Kendall said people should make use of this opportunity. If someone is worried, hasn't been vaccinated, is in a high-risk group, or newly pregnant, I'd suggest they take an opportunity to get the vaccine while we know we have ample supplies this month or next month, he said.