Indigenously developed influenza vaccine likely next month

An indigenously developed influenza vaccine is likely to be launched in the country next month, Union minister for health Ghulam Nabi Azad said today.
   
"This is the first time an influenza vaccine will be produced in India. The vaccine is currently in the advanced stage of clinical testing on human beings. If everything goes well, we will have it next month," he told reporters on the sidelines of the 14th Convocation of NIMHANS.
   
He said though the developed countries had produced such a vaccine, the government decided to develop influenza vaccine for which it procured a 'seed' from WHO.
   
Replying to a question on government investment in developing the vaccine, he said the development of the vaccine has been a "collaborative" effort with the government supporting private pharmaceutical companies.