India likely to develop swine flu vaccine in 4-6 months

India is likely to develop a vaccine for the dreaded swine flu within the next four to six months, the Union Health Ministry said.

India is likely to develop a vaccine for the dreaded swine flu within the next four to six months, the Union Health Ministry on Friday said.

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The Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) and the Indian Virology Institute have already isolated the virus and started work on developing the vaccine, Vineet Chaudhary, Joint Secretary Ministry of Health told reporters in New Delhi.

A request has been sent to the WHO yesterday for the seed of the virus, he said.

The health ministry has identified three companies with which it will work in collaboration to develop the vaccine.

The companies are-- the Serum Institute of India, Bharat Biotech and Panacea Biotech.

"We are hopeful of developing the vaccine within the next four to six months," he added.

Once the vaccine is developed, all regulatory process for its manufacture will be fast-tracked, he said.