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Singapore Has More Supplies of Human Flu Vaccines: Minister

Posted on: Tuesday, 22 November 2005, 09:00 CST

Singapore has More supplies of human flu vaccines: minister

SINGAPORE, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- Singapore Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan said in Parliament on Monday that some 40,000 human flu vaccines will be available in the city state in batches, according to Channel NewsAsia report.

The minister stressed that only those in the high-risk group like the elderly should be recommended to take the vaccine since it has not been proven to protect people from bird flu.

Khaw added that the government may consider supporting some local production of vaccines, based on the economics of such production, to ease the vaccine shortage in the face of a possible flu pandemic.

He said that Singapore is watching the safety of Tamiflu carefully and in consultation with the US Food and Drug Administration after deaths of 12 Japanese children who had taken the anti-flu drug were reported.

Tamiflu, invented by the US company Gilead and licensed to Roche in 1996, has proven effective against influenza A and B and H5N1 bird flu virus, which is threatening the world.

Two adverse reports involving vomiting and nausea after using Tamiflu have been received in Singapore, according to the minister.

To reduce the risks of animal diseases transmitting to humans, Minister of State for National Development Heng Chee How said that the Endangered Species Import and Export Act will be tightened.

So far, no bird flu case has been found in Singapore.

Source: Xinhua News Agency - CEIS

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