Local company helps with vaccine study

WARWICK, R.I. - It became a global pandemic, H1N1. The virus quickly spread around the world.

According to Rhode Island's department of health, 185 people are or were infected including two deaths.

In Massachusetts, there are more than 13 hundred confirmed cases.

Now, a local company is doing several vaccine research studies on the swine flu.

A Warwick company is one of a handful in the nation conducting this vaccine research.

Doctor David Fried at Warwick's Omega Medical Research calls the local involvment in the vaccine study unprecedented.

Omega is looking for volunteers from 6 months to 65 years or older, they would recieve two doses starting in early August.

Five companies across the country are working on these H1N1 vaccines and Omega was involved in the past with avian flu research.

But the goal this time is to get answers before the next flu season.

Doctor Fried also says if the drug and research companies meet that fast approaching deadline it would be the fastest time in history that a vaccine was developed.