The company is currently in discussions with a number of governments regarding their specific pandemic planning needs, including governments who are changing their planned immunisation programs.
GSK confirmed that it has reached an agreement with the German Ministry of Health (MoH) to amend its existing contract to receive approximately 70% of the ordered vaccine, equivalent to 34 million doses.
At the start of the pandemic and based on previous experience, immunisation programs were expected to consist of two doses of vaccine. However, data from subsequent clinical trials demonstrating a strong immune response from one dose of the vaccine, have resulted in some public health authorities adapting their recommendations for immunisation. The clinical trial program for H1N1 vaccines is ongoing and data continues to be made available.
Jean Stephenne, president of GSK Biologicals, said: “Pandemics by their nature are unpredictable and we recognise that governments’ needs are changing. We are committed to finding solutions for governments changing their immunisation programmes and to fulfilling recent new orders.”