40,000 DOSES OF ANTI-H1N1 VACCINE TO BE AVAILABLE NEXT MONTH IN MALAYSIA

BENTONG (Malaysia), Sept 17 (Bernama) -- A total of 40,000 doses of the
400,000 doses of anti-H1N1 vaccine ordered by the Health Ministry are expected
to arrive in Malaysia by the end of next month, said its minister Liow Tiong
Lai.

He said the vaccine would be evenly distributed with priority given to front
line personnel and high risk groups like pregnant women and children.

The balance 360,000 doses would arrive in early January, he told reporters
Wednesday.

Liow said the anti-H1N1 vaccine was being sourced from GlaxoSmithKline (GSK)
which is based in the United Kingdom.

He added that the ministry was also in the process of ordering more of such
vaccine from other suppliers.

"We have to place bookings early and we are looking for the best
quality. We
try to get as many sources as possible including from China and Taiwan so that
in case of emergency we can get more vaccine," he said, adding that the vaccine
would have to have the approval of the World Health Organisation (WHO).

He also said the government had ordered that a vaccine making facility be
set up in the near future.

"We are in the process of building one vaccine producing facility. Ninebio
Sdn Bhd has been directed to set up the plant," he said.

Besides this, Liow said, in line WHO's warning of a possible second wave of
the pandemic, the Cabinet had approved an allocation of RM158 million
(US$1=RM3.5) to
increase beds and facilities at Intensive Care Units at government hospitals to
face such a scenario.

--BERNAMA