World Health Organisation statement on vaccines

GENEVA (Reuters) - The World Health Organisation on Sunday issued a statement about vaccines to fight the new H1N1 virus that continues to spread around the world.

Following are excerpts from that statement, available in full at www.who.int:

IS THERE AN EFFECTIVE VACCINE ALREADY AVAILABLE?

No, but work is already underway to develop such a vaccine.

HOW ELSE CAN WE FIGHT PANDEMIC DISEASE?

Other measures include anti-viral drugs, social distancing and personal hygiene.

DOES REGULAR FLU VACCINE WORK AGAINST H1N1?

The best scientific evidence available today is incomplete but suggests that seasonal vaccines will confer little or no protection against Influenza A(H1N1).

WHY CONTINUE TO MAKE SEASONAL FLU VACCINE?