The majority of Americans want to be vaccinated against swine flu, polls show. But unless you're in a high-risk group, such as expectant mothers, you may not get any vaccine anytime soon. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the current tide of H1N1 influenza is likely to begin to ebb before the shortage of vaccine eases. Meanwhile, the toll from the virus keeps climbing, with deaths from H1N1 in the United States having likely reached 4,000, of which 540 are children.

There are several reasons for the worrisome vaccine shortage. The federal government ordered enough vaccine to immunize nearly the entire nation. But deliveries have been slow, to name one big problem. Perhaps more frustrating to many on the front lines of fighting the virus is that the shortage would ease considerably if the U.S. simply embraced an enhanced version of the vaccine. But so far, U.S. regulatory authorities -- unlike their counterparts in Europe -- haven't taken the steps to make this happen.

The U.S. may worry about having enough H1N1 vaccine to protect its population from swine flu, but at least it's getting precious doses. Many developing countries, which can't afford the sometimes expensive medication, don't have any at all.

That may change soon. The U.K.'s GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) said Tuesday it will donate 50 million doses of its H1N1 influenza vaccine to developing countries most in need through the World Health Organization. Initial shipments will start by the end of November with shipments to be completed by May 2010, the WHO said. GlaxoSmithKline's move comes as several other pharmaceuticals have pledged similar measures.

Ever since China loosened its trade restrictions with the West, companies have jumped head-first into the Communist-run state, hoping to capitalize on selling products to the planet's most populous nation. Pharmaceutical companies have been no different, but at a somewhat more subdued rate because China's health-care system has been less developed.

Now, though, just when reform is looming for the U.S. health-care system, which could potentially slow pharmaceutical sales (at least in the short term), China is starting to push health care into growth mode. And Swiss-based Novartis (NVS) is one drugmaker that intends to capitalize on it.