Influenza vaccine ineffective on high-risk groups

BANGKOK, 13 August 2009 (NNT) – Public Health Minister, Witthaya Kaewparadai, admitted that the nasal-spray vaccine against the A (H1N1) virus produced by Thailand was ineffective on people in 5 high-risk groups.

Mr. Witthaya said the spray type of live-attenuated influenza A (H1N1) vaccine produced in Thailand could not effectively cover people with an allergy to eggs, those with congenital asthma, those over 49 years old, children under 2 years old, and pregnant women. As a result, the National Vaccine Committee meeting suggested a purchase of injectable inactivated vaccines from abroad as supplies for emergency cases.

In addition, the National Vaccine Committee recommended the Public Health Ministry to produce additional dengue fever vaccines, Japanese encephalitis vaccines, Bacillus Calmette-Guérin vaccines for tuberculosis and Diphtheria, Tetanus and Pertussis vaccines (DTP).