Pathfinder
Editor, Senior Moderator
H1N1 vaccine surplus in N.W.T.
2 hours, 26 minutes ago
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About 7,000 extra doses of the H1N1 influenza vaccine remain in the Northwest Territories, according to the territory's top medical officer.
Dr. Kami Kandola told CBC News that the N.W.T. had purchased 34,000 doses of the swine flu vaccine enough to vaccinate 75 per cent of the territory's population in time for a mass immunization program that began in late-October.
"To date, we have vaccinated 62 per cent of our population, so we have about 7,000 doses of vaccine in the [Northwest] Territories," Kandola said Friday.
Health officials are keeping the doses in stock for residents who still want to get the shot. Anyone who wants to get the vaccine can contact their local health centre.
Kandola said it's not yet clear what will happen to the surplus H1N1 vaccine doses.
"We have a contract with the pharmaceutical company, and in that contract we are not allowed to sell the vaccine to third parties," she said.
"So what we are doing is working with the federal government. The federal government will be the one ultimately who can make a decision."
There has not been a new swine flu case confirmed in the N.W.T. since the end of November, following a wave of infections in October.
Kandola said health officials are still watching out for flu cases and testing people who report respiratory-related flu symptoms.
However, she still warns that another flu wave could be coming later this winter.
Kandola is encouraging people to get the seasonal flu vaccine, which became available right after the H1N1 vaccination campaign ended.
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/cbc/100111/canada/canada_north_nwt
2 hours, 26 minutes ago
<!-- phugc -->
About 7,000 extra doses of the H1N1 influenza vaccine remain in the Northwest Territories, according to the territory's top medical officer.
Dr. Kami Kandola told CBC News that the N.W.T. had purchased 34,000 doses of the swine flu vaccine enough to vaccinate 75 per cent of the territory's population in time for a mass immunization program that began in late-October.
"To date, we have vaccinated 62 per cent of our population, so we have about 7,000 doses of vaccine in the [Northwest] Territories," Kandola said Friday.
Health officials are keeping the doses in stock for residents who still want to get the shot. Anyone who wants to get the vaccine can contact their local health centre.
Kandola said it's not yet clear what will happen to the surplus H1N1 vaccine doses.
"We have a contract with the pharmaceutical company, and in that contract we are not allowed to sell the vaccine to third parties," she said.
"So what we are doing is working with the federal government. The federal government will be the one ultimately who can make a decision."
There has not been a new swine flu case confirmed in the N.W.T. since the end of November, following a wave of infections in October.
Kandola said health officials are still watching out for flu cases and testing people who report respiratory-related flu symptoms.
However, she still warns that another flu wave could be coming later this winter.
Kandola is encouraging people to get the seasonal flu vaccine, which became available right after the H1N1 vaccination campaign ended.
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/cbc/100111/canada/canada_north_nwt