Fighting the A/H1N1 flu epidemic has just become more manageable. Australian and US researchers say that one dose of the new A/H1N1 flu vaccine appears sufficient to immunize adults.
The vaccine's effectiveness begins within 10 days of its being administered. Australian vaccine maker CSL Ltd. published the results of a study showing that 75 percent to 96 percent of vaccinated people were immunized with a single dose -- the same degree of effectiveness as a regular winter flu shot.
US data released on Friday confirmed the findings, and show that protection begins rapidly.
Earlier, scientists had feared that people of all ages would need two shots, about a month apart, because the A/H1N1 strain is so genetically different from ordinary flu strains.
(CCTV September 14, 2009)
