Canada finds additional half-million flu shots it could buy
Posted January 10, 2014 5:51 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
TORONTO (NEWS1130) – Canada has identified an additional half-million flu shots it could purchase to try to meet an unexpected late-season clamouring for the product.
But the deputy head of the Public Health Agency of Canada admits the country could still run out of vaccine, if demand in Central and Eastern Canada spikes in the way it has in parts of the West.
Dr. Gregory Taylor says an extra 245,800 doses are being purchased from the suppliers who contract with the federal government to provide vaccine each season.
Their contracts stipulate the manufacturers must hold aside an additional five per cent on top of their total order, in case Canada needs to buy more vaccine. Canada is exercising that option.
Taylor says the country is also exploring the possibility of purchasing another 360,000 doses that were made for other customers but not purchased by them. But he says a decision on whether it will be bought — or needed — hasn’t been made yet.
Alberta, Saskatchewan and the Northwest Territories have indicated they may run out of flu vaccine, with the latter two saying Friday they would reserve what remains of their supplies for high risk individuals.
