India's first vaccine against H1N1(Vaxiflu-S) indigenously manufactured by Ahmedabad-based pharma major, Cadila Healthcare was launched by Union health minister Ghulam Nabi Azad here on Thursday, with the Minister himself receiving the first shot. The egg based, inactivated vaccine based on conventional technology has been developed by the group's experts at its Vaccine Technology Centre (VTC), Ahemdabad.

Speaking on the launch of the first H1N1 vaccine (Vaxiflu-S), the Minister said that , "ever since WHO declared an influenza pandemic on June 11 2009 and& made recommendation for the use of pandemic Influenza A (H1N1) 2009 vaccines, Ministry of Health had taken up the challenge in June 2009 to promote manufacture of very first indigenous H1 N1 vaccine in the shortest possible time and facilitated it by preparation of a regulatory roadmap for achieving the same. Focus was to have a safe, and efficacious vaccine in the market as soon as possible and I am happy to note that we have been able to be to launch India's first H1N1 vaccine.''

This technological breakthrough in the indigenous manufacture of influenza vaccine has for the first time created a platform in the country which can be used for production of any pandemic influenza vaccine besides seasonal influenza vaccines at short notice to safeguard public health.

Launch of this indigenously manufactured H1N1 Vaccine has proven capabilities of India to the global community in researching, developing and manufacturing of safe and efficacious vaccines. Further with the global vaccine industry forecasted to grow by nearly 18 per cent by 2010, which is roughly three times the growth of the global pharmaceutical industry, research and development of vaccines have emerged as a major focus area in recent times, according to an official release.

Another vaccine major Serum Institute of India, Pune is expected to launch its live attenuated H1N1 vaccine by June 2010 end & inactivated H1N1 vaccine by mid of July 2010. Bharat Biotech Ltd., Hyderabad & Panacea Biotech, New Delhi are also expected to launch their indigenously manufactured H1N1 vaccine by July 2010 and August 2010 respectively.