Ultra-low bird flu vaccine is affective

A new ultra-low dose vaccine against H5N1 avian flu produced by manufacturer Sanofi Pasteur is more protective in smaller amounts than any others, the company announced yesterday (September 18th).

Sanofi's vaccine has proved to be protective at two doses of 1.9 micrograms and triggered the production of a high level immune response in more than 70 per cent of volunteers.

Flu vaccine expert, Dr John Treanor, said that the vaccine would be useful in a pandemic and mean that more people could be vaccinated quicker.

"This is really good for pandemic preparedness, because it means that the potential number of doses would be much increased," he told the Canadian Press.

Sanofi was the first company to make and test an H5N1 vaccine.

China this week confirmed a suspected outbreak of H5N1 bird flu among ducks in the south of the country, affecting five farms in the Panyu district near Hong Kong.