OTTAWA, Oct 30, 2009 (UPI via COMTEX) -- Unprecedented demand in Canada's
largest-ever mass inoculation program has led to a shortage of the H1N1 flu
vaccine, federal officials said.
Various provincial health ministries said the federal health department had
notified them "there will be significantly less vaccine delivered than had been
anticipated in the weeks ahead," the Canwest News Service reported Friday.
Clinics opened this week across Canada for those at highest risk of contracting
what was originally called swine flu, such as children up to five years old,
pregnant women and those with lung disorders.
However, thousands of people outside those groups have swamped clinics, and
vaccine manufacturer GlaxoSmithKline was struggling to keep up with demand, the
Globe and Mail reported.
When the virus first surfaced in Mexico earlier this year, the Canadian
government said it had ordered 50 million doses of the vaccine for the country's
33.7 million citizens.
Federal Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq said Thursday the goal is to have all
Canadians who want the shot immunized by Christmas and "we remain on track to
meet this goal," Canwest reported.
She said six million vaccine doses will be delivered to provinces by the end of
Friday, and another three million next week, the Globe said.
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