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Editor, Senior Moderator
Source: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/canada-lending-h1n1-vaccine-to-mexico/article1420935/
Canada lending H1N1 vaccine to Mexico
Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq says 5 million doses will be shipped south starting this week; Mexico to replenish Canada's supply by end of March
Caroline Alphonso
Globe and Mail Update Published on Wednesday, Jan. 06, 2010 11:45AM EST Last updated on Wednesday, Jan. 06, 2010 12:03PM EST
Canada is lending, not donating, 5 million doses of the H1N1 vaccine to Mexico ? and the federal government remains mum on what it will do with its expected surplus of the pandemic vaccine.
Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq announced today that the doses, being shipped to Mexico starting this week, will help with that country's immediate pandemic vaccine requirements. Mexico will replenish Canada's supply by the end of March.
?Provincial and territorial governments unanimously agreed to the request. Canada already has distributed and has stockpiled enough vaccine in Canada to meet its immediate and ongoing needs, as well as to accommodate Mexico's request,? the government said in a news release.
But it remains unclear why Canada is lending the vaccine to Mexico when it most likely has enough to donate the supply to developing countries.
The country ordered 50.4 million doses from pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline, when it was believed that each person needed two shots to be protected. But that has changed, and clinical trials have shown that only one shot is required for everyone except children.
About 24 million doses of vaccine will have been shipped to provinces and territories, and demand has been waning.
Federal health officials have declined to say what they will do with the excess vaccine. ?We are still looking at our options,? Tim Vail, Ms. Aglukkaq's spokesman, said in an e-mail. He added that the government hoped to have a decision shortly.
Public health officials still hope to persuade Canadians to get vaccinated, especially if the virus returns some time during the winter. About 40 to 45 per cent of Canadians have been vaccinated.
Canada lending H1N1 vaccine to Mexico
Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq says 5 million doses will be shipped south starting this week; Mexico to replenish Canada's supply by end of March
Caroline Alphonso
Globe and Mail Update Published on Wednesday, Jan. 06, 2010 11:45AM EST Last updated on Wednesday, Jan. 06, 2010 12:03PM EST
Canada is lending, not donating, 5 million doses of the H1N1 vaccine to Mexico ? and the federal government remains mum on what it will do with its expected surplus of the pandemic vaccine.
Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq announced today that the doses, being shipped to Mexico starting this week, will help with that country's immediate pandemic vaccine requirements. Mexico will replenish Canada's supply by the end of March.
?Provincial and territorial governments unanimously agreed to the request. Canada already has distributed and has stockpiled enough vaccine in Canada to meet its immediate and ongoing needs, as well as to accommodate Mexico's request,? the government said in a news release.
But it remains unclear why Canada is lending the vaccine to Mexico when it most likely has enough to donate the supply to developing countries.
The country ordered 50.4 million doses from pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline, when it was believed that each person needed two shots to be protected. But that has changed, and clinical trials have shown that only one shot is required for everyone except children.
About 24 million doses of vaccine will have been shipped to provinces and territories, and demand has been waning.
Federal health officials have declined to say what they will do with the excess vaccine. ?We are still looking at our options,? Tim Vail, Ms. Aglukkaq's spokesman, said in an e-mail. He added that the government hoped to have a decision shortly.
Public health officials still hope to persuade Canadians to get vaccinated, especially if the virus returns some time during the winter. About 40 to 45 per cent of Canadians have been vaccinated.