WHO supports vaccine donations

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has welcomed new donations of vaccines to help people in the developing world.

More pandemic vaccines to help curb the threat of the H1N1 virus around the globe have been announced by the US.

This follows commitments on this issue from countries including the UK, Australia, France and Brazil.

Italy, New Zealand, Norway and Switzerland have also donated funds and medicines to the cause.

Dr Margaret Chan, director-general of WHO, applauded the donations but urged world powers to do more to help developing countries.

She said: "Current supplies of pandemic vaccine are inadequate for a world population in which virtually everyone is susceptible to infection by a new and readily contagious virus.

"Given that current demand outstrips supply, these donations, together with the doses pledged by manufacturers, will help increase supplies of pandemic vaccines to populations that would otherwise not have access."

WHO recently outlined the differences between the H1N1 virus and seasonal flu, with younger people appearing more susceptible to swine flu.

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