Drug firms make commitment on flu vaccine-WHO chief

GENEVA May 19 (Reuters) - Vaccine makers from rich and poor countries have given "a very serious commitment" to the World Health Organisation on the provision of H1N1 flu vaccines, WHO director-general Margaret Chan said on Tuesday.

She was commenting on news, after she met the heads of 30 vaccine makers, that six companies would make 10 percent of the H1N1 flu vaccines they produce available to the United Nations.

Chan said different companies were making different commitments depending on their conditions.

"It is not easy to have a cookie-cutter approach with 30 companies," she told a news conference.

The vaccine makers had promised to hold follow-up meetings with WHO officials, she added. (Reporting by Jonathan Lynn; Editing by Louise Ireland)