THE first vaccines to combat H1N1 swine flu should be approved and ready for use in some countries from September, the World Health Organisation (WHO) announced last month.
Marie-Paule Kieny, WHO director of the Initiative for Vaccine Research, said manufacturers were now on track in the development process, according to a report from Reuters.
First results from clinical trials are expected early in September and these tests will show whether one or two doses are needed to provide immunity, which is a large factor in determining how many people can be vaccinated.
Once the initial clinical trial results are received, regulators would be able to approve the vaccines from September, according to Kieny.
Cancelling travel plans and holidays abroad because of the fear of contracting the H1N1 virus was not necessary, according to another WHO spokeswoman Aphaluck Bhatiasevi.
“There is no reason to avoid visiting any country that has reported a case of swine flu,” she said.
Although a number of cases of swine flu have been reported in Europe - a major destination for Gulf tourists particularly Germany, the UK and France - international health experts have refuted concerns over travel, pointing out that such fears are unfounded and tourists have no reason to worry.
However in Saudi Arabia, some hotels in Makkah had reported a jump in their booking cancellation numbers weeks before Ramadan started, due to fears over contracting swine flu.
The Makkah Hilton & Towers, near the Al Haram Mosque and the Kaaba, saw its season bookings plunging more than 20 per cent, according to an Arabian Business report. The same report confirmed that Le Meridien Towers Makka too had a decline in the number of room bookings.