Government of Canada announces intention to order 50.4 million doses of H1N1 vaccine

August 6, 2009
For Immediate Release

OTTAWA – Minister of Health, Leona Aglukkaq and Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer, Dr. David Butler-Jones, today announced that the Government of Canada will soon place an order for 50.4 million doses of H1N1 vaccine, which will be available to all Canadians who need and want it in time for the winter flu season.“The Government of Canada will ensure sufficient H1N1 vaccine is available to immunize every Canadian who needs and wants protection from the H1N1 virus,” said Minister Aglukkaq. “We are pleased to have worked together with provinces and territories in implementing a coordinated, pan-Canadian response to all elements of the H1N1 outbreak, including decisions around vaccines.”

The Government of Canada has a longstanding contract with GlaxoSmithKline to maintain vaccine production capacity in Canada in order to meet Canada’s pandemic vaccine needs promptly and effectively.

“We are confident the 50.4 million vaccine doses we plan to purchase will be sufficient to meet the needs of every Canadian likely to need and want protection,” said Dr. Butler-Jones.

Although the delivery of immunization is a provincial and territorial responsibility, given the exceptional circumstances of a pandemic, the Government of Canada intends to cover 60 per cent of this purchase on a one-time basis. The role of the federal government is to facilitate the timely production of safe and effective H1N1 vaccines and to provide guidance to provinces and territories on the use of vaccines to protect the health of Canadians

Canadian vaccine production remains on target. Clinical trials are expected to begin by October, if not sooner, and if all goes well, immunization programs will begin by November. These timelines are largely consistent with pandemic vaccine development internationally.

For more information on the Canadian response to the H1N1 flu virus, please visit www.fightflu.ca

Media Inquiries:
Josée Bellemare
Office of Leona Aglukkaq
Minister of Health
613-957-0200

Public Health Agency of Canada
Media Relations
(613) 941-8189