Switzerland-Bird Flu vaccine.

SWITZERLAND-VACCCINE FOR BIRD FLU.

The production capacity of bird flu vaccines has tripled since

2007 but it could still take up to four years to meet global demand if a

pandemic were to occur, a World Health Organization-backed study said Tuesday.

Even in the best case scenario, 18 months would be required for sufficient

doses of medication to be produced to cover the worldwide population, the study

said. Marie-Paule Kieny, who heads the WHO’s initiative for vaccine research,

expressed concern that production facilities might cut back because supply had

more than met demand for regular, seasonal vaccines.