Domestic vaccines in March 2010 - vaccine production unit opened within Institute "Torlak"

(Tomica Milosavljević and Ranko Dakić)

- Production of vaccines against flu in Serbia will start next year - it was said on Monday (December 21, 2009) at the opening of the unit for production of vaccines within Immunology and Virology Institute "Torlak".

According to the words of CEO of the Institute, Ranko Dakić, trial production should start in January, while the beginning of regular production is scheduled for March.

- If the vaccines against flu in 2010 are trivalent, the capacity of production will amount to 2m doses. If the vaccines are monovalent, than the capacity will amount to 6m doses - Dakić explained.

- World Health Organization will define the contents of the new seasonal vaccine against flu in February 2010.

The Minister of Health, Prof. Dr. Tomica Milosavljević, who cut the ribbon, said that the opening of the unit was very important event, not only for the Institute, but also for domestic health system, because the citizens of Serbia will be able to receive vaccines produced in "Torlak" already in autumn 2010:

- The race with time, technology and science is starting today, and we do have people for that race.