With anticipation of increased severity during the return of the Novel H1N1 flu, commonly known as "swine flu," pharmaceutical companies face urgent demand from the public and governments worldwide to have a viable vaccine ready.

Discussing the great need for volunteers to test the vaccine, Lauran Neergaard, AP Medical Writer, writes that on July 24th "the National Institute of Health tapped a network of medical centers around the country to begin a series of studies."

Diane Waters, nurse practitioner at ISU Student Health Services, warned students to take note.

She said, "Concern whether the severity of swine flu will increase this fall, coupled with the fact that healthy young adults and children are at risk has created urgency to get a vaccine approved."
ISU law student Charlotte Bourner expresses interest in the vaccine.
"I would choose to be vaccinated as long as the vaccine is tested and safe."

Natural health Web site Mercola notes that at least one company’s vaccine "will not be made using the methods of the past. In order to speed up the cultivation of the virus and the manufacturing process, they’re using human liver cells instead of chicken eggs."
With a deadline this fall, it may be difficult to understand the long-range impact of such a technique.

Dr. Russell Blaylock, neurosurgeon, author and health advocate, argues the "vaccine may be more dangerous than swine flu."
The lack of recourse if something does go wrong offers little consolation. As reported by MSNBC, "Vaccine makers and federal officials will be immune from lawsuits that result from any new swine flu vaccine, under a document signed by Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius, government health officials said Friday."

Some argue that this step was taken to encourage drug companies to have the vaccine ready despite the numerous lawsuits and injury claims that accompanied a similar swine flu scare.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Web site explains that H1N1 flu virus is commonly referred to as "swine flu" because lab tests show many of its genes to be very similar to those that normally occur in pigs. This has proven to be somewhat of a misnomer for the Novel H1N1 version, as further studies have shown that it also includes both avian and human gene components.
"Debate continues over the possibility that swine flu is a genetically engineered virus," Blaylock said.

According to Waters, those that have not been vaccinated should practice good hygiene, stay home when they feel sick and wash their hands frequently.  "Ultimately the burden is on the individual to weigh the benefits and risks and to decide whether taking the vaccine is the best decision for them," she said.