Geneva - Switzerland has authorized two vaccines against the A(H1N1) pandemic virus, the regulating agency said Friday. One shot of Pandemrix, manufactured by GlaxSmithKline, mixed with the AS03 adjuvant, would be sufficient for antibody formation, Swissmedic said.
It did not, however, authorize the vaccine for pregnant women, children under the age of 18 and adults over 60, as it lacked data on those groups.
Also, Focetria, produced by Novartis, had already been authorized by European Medicines Agency, and Swissmedic said it approved the use of the vaccine largely based on that previous decision.
It was recommended for use in adults and children over six months old. The regulating agency said that in the case of pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers "the attending doctor must weigh up the potential advantages and disadvantages of an inoculation."
Celtura, a second Novartis drug, was still being studied. Unlike the other two, which were produced using hens' eggs, this was being developed on the basis of cell cultures.
Swissmedic said it was operating an on-line system so medics could report any adverse effects of the vaccine.
