The European Commission has granted marketing authorisation of GlaxoSmithKline (GSK's) pandemic H1N1 adjuvanted vaccine for protection against the H1N1 influenza.

This confirmation was made by GSK, which noted that the vaccine "was shown to be generally well tolerated", with commonly reported side effects including headache, joint and muscle pain, reactions at the site of injection, and fever and fatigue.

At a media global conference in early October, representatives from the pharmaceutical company said they had developed a vaccine and would be distributing it to the World Health Organisation and Pan American Health Organisation for distribution worldwide. They noted that the vaccine would be available to the region in the first quarter of next year.

Dr Eva Lewis-Fuller, head of health promotion and protection in the Ministry of Health, told The Gleaner last month that priority would be given to health workers and those considered high risk, including pregnant women, children under five years old and persons with chronic illnesses, such as asthma, obesity, diabetes and hypertension.