Vaccine to protect against Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 Influenza a step closer

20 August 2009

The Commonwealth Chief Medical Officer, Professor Jim Bishop, has this week received some preliminary trial data from the adult human Panvax (pandemic influenza vaccine) trials, conducted by Australian company, CSL Ltd.

This is the world’s first data from human trials and an impressive Australian achievement.

According to Professor Bishop the early results are as expected and a very positive step towards a vaccine.

However, Professor Bishop has advised that there is not yet sufficient information from the initial adult trials to draw any conclusions and therefore the vaccine is not yet available for distribution.

He has requested further information from CSL, which they are providing. This additional information is expected in the coming weeks.

The Australian government has placed an order for 21 million doses of vaccine which, if one dose is required will be enough for the whole population and if two doses are needed, we will have enough for half the population which will give the community a great deal of protection.

The Commonwealth Government will receive 2 million doses of the vaccine at the end of the month and these can be predeployed and stored in States and Territories in prepartion for an initial vaccine program when sufficient trial data is received.

The priority groups to receive the first batches of vaccine will be frontline health workers, and those in vulnerable groups such as pregnant women and people with chronic disease. When more vaccine is available, the wider community will be offered the vaccine.

Children will not be included in the first round of vaccinations as no data has yet been received on the children's trials. We do not expect this until October at the earliest.

More information will uploaded onto this website as it becomes available.