Health Canada gives okay to H1N1 vaccine

Health Canada has approved a pandemic H1N1 flu vaccine.
The federal health regulator and the Public Health Agency of Canada are currently working with provincial and territorial governments to deliver the H1N1 flu vaccine to health care facility sites so that immunization programs can get underway.
National recommendations on the use of H1N1 flu vaccine include:
•    All Canadians 10-years of age and older should receive a dose of the vaccine;
•    Pregnant women should receive one dose of the unadjuvanted vaccine, and if the unadjuvanted vaccine is not available in certain areas, then they are to receive the adjuvanted vaccine;
•    Children age 0-6 months — immunization is not authorized; and
•    Children from six months and up to 10 years old should receive the vaccine in two half-doses.
“This is a milestone in our efforts to fight the pandemic H1N1 flu virus,” said Leona Aglukkaq, minister of health. “Thanks to careful planning we now have a safe and effective vaccine being distributed to provinces and territories that they will be rolling out in a matter of days.”
The Government of Canada has ordered 1.8 million doses of unadjuvanted vaccine for pregnant women which will be available in early November.