The arrival of GSK’s new active vaccine against 4 strains of the flu virus, Alpharix Tetra, could destabilise the market and mean some patients don’t get it, Le Soir said on Monday. Up to now, each flu vaccine contained two type A strains of the virus and one type B strain. “However, it is very difficult to anticipate which type B strain will be dominant out of the two. So, every other year, the vaccine is inactive for this part of the virus”, Le Soir said.
The new quadruple vaccine eliminates this risk, so patients are expected to prefer it to others. There could be such a massive demand that there won’t be enough for priority patients.
(Source: Belga)
