Flu shot campaign on track: Aglukkaq

Canada remains on track to start offering the swine flu vaccine early in November as planned, Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq said Wednesday.

The H1N1 vaccine is currently being produced at GlaxoSmithKline's facility in Quebec, Dr. David Butler-Jones, Canada's chief public health officer, told a news conference. Final approval for the vaccine is expected this month.

"Canada's pandemic influenza plan is a balanced approach between the need to quickly get a vaccine to Canadians and to gather as much information as we can on safety and effectiveness," Butler-Jones said.

"This is the largest immunization campaign in history, and we have to get it right."

Information on whether one or two doses of the vaccine produces immunity among healthy adults will come from clinical trials in Europe on about 130 people, followed by clinical trials in Canada on groups such as aboriginal Canadians, he said.

The Canadian trials are waiting for vaccine to be produced at GlaxoSmithKline's facility in Quebec City. Unlike the company's facility in Dresden, Germany — which has two production lines and was able to produce both seasonal and H1N1 vaccine at the same time — the Canadian location had only one line and had to delay production by a few weeks.

Overall, the Canadian clinical trials will test the vaccine on tens of thousands of people, Butler-Jones said.

Aglukkaq said she will personally get the H1N1 vaccine when it becomes available, and she will encourage her family and cabinet members to also get it, but added it is an individual choice.

Hand-washing guidelines released

Once the pandemic vaccine is available, surveillance will be enhanced at hospitals and pediatric wards, and Canadians will be encouraged to report adverse reactions. Researchers are watching closely for any reactions that exceed the expected incidence of adverse effects.

The U.S. started vaccinating people with a nasal spray version of the H1N1 vaccine on Monday. The spray is not licensed in Canada, and uses a live form of the virus that can be only given to healthy adults, not pregnant women and those with underlying health conditions who are at highest risk of getting severely ill with the H1N1 virus.

Provinces and municipalities that are responsible for delivering the vaccine are still waiting for firm delivery dates before they confirm their plans.

Meanwhile, the federal government also released new guidelines Wednesday on hand washing.

When running water is not available, people may use two containers, one for the water supply and another for washing. The water may be boiled for one minute and then cooled or treated with chemicals such as chlorine bleach.

When water is not available, hand sanitizing liquids, gels or foams are the next option, he said. Rings and other jewellery should be removed and hands should be washed for at least 15 seconds. 

Aglukkaq also said that an investigation into the recent shipment of body bags to a remote First Nation community in northern Manitoba showed the community's order was "disproportionately high compared with other First Nations," but there was "no evidence of ill will or deliberate calculation."

Health Canada will change its procurement procedures as a result of the incident, she added.