The vaccine against H5N1 avian influenza made from monkey cells has been reported effective by researchers at drug company Baxter International.

“Cell culture technology could represent the future of influenza vaccine production,” said virologist John Oxford of The Queen Mary School of Medicine in London.

This is better than using chicken eggs for the vaccine because the right type of chicken eggs are difficult to obtain and H5N1 kills chicken rapidly.

The New England Journal of Medicine reported that a trial of this monkey cell vaccine carried out on 250 people showed stronger immune response in people who received two doses.

According to the World Health Organisation, the H5N1 avian flu virus has been responsible for killing 241 people in 15 countries and is feared by the experts to take a form easily transmitted from one person to another, killing millions.

The vaccine called Celvapan, is made in Czech Republic. This cell based vaccine requires less advance planning and could be made year-round. Around 16 companies working on this vaccine are positive towards preparing it instead of the fear of a pandemic it may cause.

Because it is not possible to test whether the vaccine actually prevents infection, the researchers measured antibodies in their volunteers in Austria and Singapore. They said it induced an immune response similar to the body’s defense against a natural virus infection.