A report released by Barack Obama’s 21-strong crew of science advisers (PCAST) on Monday urged that H1N1 vaccines be made available as soon as possible – by mid-September, bearing in mind the start of the new school term.

But although the production line is stuffing bulk vaccines into vials as fast as possible – the recommended ‘fill and finish’ approach – it will not be possible to get them ready (including dose-testing) before October, says Thomas Frieden, acting director for the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

“We wish we had new vaccine technology that would allow us to turn on a dime and make new vaccine in terms of weeks or months. It’s not possible with today’s technology to do that,” he told Reuters.

PCAST did praise the US administration’s efforts as ‘truly impressive’. But the Project on Government Oversight isn’t so impressed, citing an AP article that quotes public health expert Mike Osterholm as saying that 80% of the US pandemic vaccine flu supply will be coming from abroad. “What if death rates go up, and the shipment of promised vaccine from abroad is blocked by foreign governments?” it says in a 26 August letter to HHS secretary Kathleen Sebelius.

It’s a question that must concern developing countries even more – with no capability to produce vaccines domestically. South African Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi on Wednesday said his country had no choice but to develop its own H1N1 flu vaccine [Reuters].