Adimmune Corp said yesterday that it would be ready to carry out human trials for its A(H1N1) influenza vaccine within two weeks, as two more fatalities from the disease were confirmed.
Company spokesman Kao Sheng-kai (高勝凱) said production had entered the filling stage, which means that the dose of the vaccine has largely been established.
Kao said that there are a total of 250 adult volunteers and 150 child volunteers for the vaccine trials. The adult volunteer spots have been filled, but there are still some vacancies for children.
PHOTO: CHIEN JUNG-FONG, TAIPEI TIMES
The trials will be carried out at National Taiwan University Hospital, Tri-service General Hospital and Wan Fang Hospital. The trials will be chaired by National Taiwan University Medical School professor Huang Li-min (黃立民).
The participants will be divided into two groups. One will receive two shots and the other will receive one shot so researchers can measure the respective concentration of antibodies produced, Huang said.
If the concentration of antibodies produced from one shot can provide sufficient protection, it is likely that only one shot will be needed for inoculation, he said.
Immunizations against the new flu strain are expected to begin late next month, with healthcare workers, pregnant women and children between six months and six years of age receiving priority.
Meanwhile, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) announced two more deaths from swine flu. The first was a 41-year-old mentally handicapped man in Tainan County. The second victim was a 58-year-old woman in Hualien who had heart disease and diabetes.
The CDC said that both of them died yesterday afternoon.
In related news, a member of Japan’s Deaflympics men’s soccer team was confirmed as having swine flu on Monday night and would be suspended from taking part in any games, the Deaflympics Organizing Committee said yesterday.
Committee president Emile Sheng (盛治仁) said the soccer player had a fever on Monday night and checked in at a municipal hospital at about 10pm. The rapid screening test came back positive.
The player was discharged from hospital as his symptoms were not severe, and he returned to his hotel to rest, said Allen Chiu (邱文祥), commissioner of Taipei City’s Health Department.
Sheng said the committee kept close contact with the team coach about the condition of the player and other members, and so far no other team member has shown any flu symptoms.
Meanwhile, the CDC also suggested new habits for people taking elevators. The CDC urged the public to cover their mouths and noses with a handkerchief or clothes while sniffling or coughing, not to talk, not to touch anything inside the elevator and to push elevator buttons with something other than their fingers, such as a pen or key.
“We are hoping that the chances of infection can be reduced as much as possible,” Kuo said.
ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY MO YAN-CHIH AND CNA
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