H1N1 roundup: international vaccine supply, nasal vaccine first in US, and more

Several H1N1 vaccine-related items in the news over the past few days:

• President Obama announced Thursday that the US would share 10 percent of its H1N1 vaccine globally, working with WHO. As this Associated Press story reports, the announcement is part of a joint effort by several western countries to improve access to H1N1 vaccine in the developing world. Here is the press statement from the White House, as well as a statement from WHO praising the announcement. This Washington Post story has more.

• Speaking of WHO, this Associated Press story published Friday reports that recent WHO projections of H1N1 vaccine production are "substantially less" than previous forecasts. Supply shortages further complicate the already-enormous challenge of large-scale vaccination against H1N1 influenza in the developing world. (A UN report leaked to the UK newspaper The Guardian presents a particularly ominous forecast of the impact of H1N1 flu in developing countries without a coordinated global assistance effort.)

• Here in the U.S., CDC announced Friday afternoon that 3.4 million doses of MedImmune's nasal spray vaccine (known as FluMist in its seasonal flu variety) will be the first H1N1 vaccine available. These doses should be available by early October, followed by the other (injected) vaccines throughout the month and beyond.
  

• Finally, Flu.gov, the U.S. government website launched several years ago as PandemicFlu.gov, completed a redesign and expansion on Friday. Billed as a 'one stop' for information on both seasonal and H1N1 influenza, the site summarizes its newly added features here.