United Nations Radio

The World Health Organization is reiterating the need for all countries to remain prepared for an H1N1 influenza pandemic.

H1N1 vaccine

The UN health agency says the world has not yet hit the peak influenza season between January and February when more cases are expected.

The agency notes that large parts of North America and parts of Europe are already over what it calls the epidemic threshold.

WHO spokesman Gregory Hartl says that the vaccine remains one of the best tools available to fight the H1N1 virus as some people express concern about its side effects.

"It has already been administered to hundreds of thousands of people. And so far we have not seen any severe side effects, and the number of side effects or adverse events, as we would call them, from this vaccine are in line with what we would expect from a seasonal flu vaccine. Remember this vaccine is no different from any other vaccine in the sense that all vaccines will on rare occasions produce adverse events."

Gregory Hartl says there are at risk groups, such as pregnant women, that can suffer severely or even die if they are not vaccinated.

Diane Bailey, United Nations.
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