A researcher with Sinovac Biotech Company begins preparation work to manufacture A/H1N1 influenza vaccine for human use with the seed lot of flu virus "NYMCX-179A", on Monday, on June 8, 2009. China received the flu strain samples from the United States for the mass production of A/H1N1 influenza vaccine. Chinese drug companies are expected to have yielded the vaccine by July. [Photo: Xinhua]

The A(H1N1) influenza vaccine will be prioritized to ensure fast development and quality control ahead of its likely entry into the Chinese market at the end of July.

The State Food and Drug Administration (SFDA) said it would shorten the regular waiting time for domestic vaccine producers to receive a production pass.

However, that did not mean it would skip measures that ensure the safety and efficacy of the coming vaccine, spokesperson Yan Jiangying said on Monday at the monthly press conference

"Given that A(H1N1) is a new virus and yet to be well known, we'll deploy staff to oversee the entire process of the vaccine's research and development, production, testing, circulation, and final use," she said.

Yin Hongzhang, head of the SFDA biology production office, said whether there was still a question as to whether the vaccine would efficiently protect people from an epidemic.

Yin said that answer depends on whether the virus in the vaccine mutated into a new form when the vaccine was in wide use.

Up until now, 4 or 5 of the qualified vaccine manufacturers in China have received the A(H1N1) vaccine virus sample from the collaborating centers of the World Health Organization (WHO), said Yin.

"By the end of the week, all of them will get the virus sample and start the research and further testing to decide the key elements of the vaccine including the dosage and inoculation form," Yin said.

China now has 11 qualified vaccine producers, out of a total of 32 worldwide, according to Yin. If all of them begin with the production, the first batch would be 3 million doses and the annual output could breach 360 million.

Yin expected the first batch of vaccines to be ready in late July. The Ministry of Health would decide on the inoculation plan.