The immune response is good and the vaccine offers protection of above 90 percent. The lab is now in the process of looking into the duration of protection.
Dr. H.K. Pradhan, Joint Director of the laboratory told the Hindu, "According to the literature, the immunity [protection] can last up to six months." The question of increasing the duration with a booster dose is under investigation.
The vaccine has been tested for safety, dosage, and route of inoculation. Dr. Pradhan said, "We found the intra-muscular [route] to be better."
On the whole, there is little chance of the avian flu occurring following vaccination since the vaccine uses a killed virus to bring on a good immune response.
The vaccine was developed over a short period of time since the lab had been working on bird flu for the last six years. The Indian Council of Agricultural Research had requested research on a vaccine following the first outbreak in India in February 2006 and it was completed in early July.
Dr. Pradhan revealed, "We had the viruses collected during this year's outbreak and the cell lines taken five years ago."
The vaccine may be used right after an outbreak to control the spread of the virus as well as for vaccination prior to an outbreak. However, vaccination before an outbreak is not advisable since the vaccine has its limitations.
In a process referred to as "ring vaccination" poultry in a 5 km (3 miles) radius of the location of outbreak has to be killed followed by vaccination on birds in a 5-10 km (3-6 miles) radius or more. The cost and the licensing of the technology for commercial use remains to be worked out.
