While H1N1 vaccine has got regulatory approval abroad, Indian vaccine manufacturers are likely to start animal testing by the end of this month.

Dates were finalised after government gave Rs 10 crore each to three vaccine manufacturers — Serum Institute of India , Bharat Biotech and Panacea Biotech — as part of the Advance Purchase Agreement.

Sources in Serum Institute confirmed that testing would start within seven to 10 days. Tests are likely to be carried on rats and mice, the model considered closest to human bodies.

As the vaccine manufacturers have the flu vaccine technology ready, India may also get seasonal flu vaccines which are not available in the country.

The H1N1 vaccine research in the country can lead to the production of an all-round vaccine for seasonal flu. “The platform is ready. The manufacturers will have to just replace the H1N1 virus with the seasonal flu virus,” said Dr V M Katoch, director general, Indian Council of Medical Research, and secretary health research, Ministry of Health.

Whether there is a market for flu vaccines in the country needs to be seen. “We have no data for seasonal flu and deaths due to it. We are going to get the data from the network of viral diagnostic labs that we are setting up across the country,” said Katoch.

However, an official from Serum Institute said, “We have some data from market research which shows there is a growing need for flu vaccines among those below five years of age and the elderly. So if we get a market we will manufacture the seasonal flu vaccine as well.”

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