"There will be another one billion dollars worth of orders placed to get the bulk ingredients for an H1N1 vaccination," Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius told CNN television Sunday, adding that the final vaccine likely will be ready by October.

"Congress has agreed with the president that this is the number one priority, keeping Americans safe and secure," she said, adding that US scientist are working "to get the shots in folks' arms."

Her remarks came as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed 211 US deaths from the A(H1N1) virus, with some 37,000 cases confirmed -- the highest level of death and infection of any country in the world.

Officials have warned that the virus could return with a vengeance in the the coming months. The virus, already deemed at pandemic levels by global health experts, is in more than 100 countries and is continuing to spread.

Last week, Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said clinical trials on a first candidate vaccine were expected to begin in August.

The tests would take "a couple of months" to determine whether the vaccine is safe and effective and what the appropriated dosage would be, Fauci said at a medical conference.

earlier related report
Canada warns pregnant women about swine flu risks
Pregnant women are at a greater risk than the rest of the population of suffering serious complications from swine flu, Canadian health authorities warned Friday.

"Thankfully, the majority of A(H1N1) illness in Canada is mild, but we are seeing that some people, including pregnant women, are more susceptible to serious illness and complications," said Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq.

Pregnant women who contract the flu virus strain run the risk of premature births and miscarriage, according to Chief Public Health Officer David Butler-Jones.

Research suggests that pregnant women are not more susceptible to the A(H1N1) virus, but are at a greater risk of complications if they do get infected, Butler-Jones told reporters.

He recommended that pregnant women take several precautions, ranging from following ordinary hygiene practices to "avoiding large crowds."

Three pregnant women were among a group of six people who have been admitted to intensive care after contracting swine flu in one Canadian province, said Danielle Grondin, an assistant deputy minister at the Public Health Agency of Canada. She declined to name the province.

Canadian health authorities said they had published guidelines for pregnant women infected with swine flu, as well as a factsheet with information for expectant mothers.

Canada has a reserve of antiviral vaccinations, including 55 million doses of Tamiflu and Relenza, which authorities said were effective treatments and safe for use by pregnant women.

A study is also underway to examine why some patients have developed more severe versions of the A(H1N1) virus than others.

More than 9,700 people in Canada have contracted the A(H1N1) virus, the Public Health Agency said.

So far, 894 cases have been severe enough to merit hospitalization, and 39 people have died from swine flu, it added.

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