Despite rumors to the contrary, the total investment that drug maker Novartis is making in its Holly Springs vaccine has not increased.

During an event this morning in Holly Springs, Jamie Iudica, senior director of technical operations for the Holly Springs plant, was introduced as an executive of a company that is investing $600 million in Holly Springs.

Iudica quickly clarified that the total investment in the plant is actually closer to one billion dollars.

Rob Ali, a Novartis spokesman who also attended this morning's event, said the figure is not new.

Ali said Novartis has publicized the size of its investment in the past.

Ali said Novartis still expects the vaccine plant to employ 350 people. It currently has 233 employees.

Novartis expects to begin commercial production of flu vaccines in Holly Springs by 2013, although the facility will be running before then to secure regulatory approval.