United Nations health officials have called for rich nations to pledge more money and donate vaccines against H1N1 flu to help developing countries fight the pandemic. It is expected that the impact will be more severe in these countries than in richer countries.

The call comes as revised estimates from the World Health Organization indicate that drug companies would produce only about three billion doses of vaccines a year, down from the 4.9 billion doses predicted in May.

“These countries have the weakest capacity and resources to withstand an escalation of H1N1 and the most vulnerable populations,” concludes a United Nations task force report.

It adds, “Countries …