Health Canada gets replacement TB vaccine
Canadian manufacturer of BCG vaccine recalled its drug in June
CBC News
Posted: Sep 17, 2012 3:25 PM CT
Last Updated: Sep 17, 2012 4:14 PM CT
Dr. Maureen Baikie, Nunavut's Chief Medical Officer of Health, said the new vials of the vaccine will likely arrive in the territory in October. (CBC)
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Health Canada has found a replacement for the BCG tuberculosis vaccine, which is offered to all newborns in Nunavut.
The vaccine helps protect from against serious forms of the disease, like TB meningitis.
The territory has been without the vaccine since June when the Canadian manufacturer of the drug recalled all of its existing inventory.
Now, new vials will be coming from a company in Tokyo.
"The Government of Nunavut has been working closely with our partners in the provinces and territories to get some of this vaccine in to the country. We have some on order and we expect to get it probably early October, we don't have a firm date yet," said Dr. Maureen Baikie, the Deputy Chief Medical Officer of Health for Nunavut.
The problems with the Canadian BCG manufacturer started after a fire sprinkler went off unexpectedly at its Toronto plant.
A company spokesperson said Monday that production will resume in December 2013.
Baikie said there have been no cases of TB in infants who would have received the vaccine in Nunavut since the supply ran out.
Now health officials have decided to review the use of BCG in the territory.
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