Arepanrix, GlaxoSmithKline's vaccine against the pandemic H1N1 flu, was today given Health Canada's stamp of approval. "This is a milestone in our efforts to fight the pandemic H1N1 flu virus," Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq said in a statement. "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 Public Health Agency of Canada's vaccination recommendations are as follows:
- All Canadians 10 years of age and older should receive one dose of adjuvanted vaccine;
- Children from six months and up to 10 years of age should receive the adjuvanted vaccine in two half-doses, administered at least 21 days apart;
- Children age 0-6 months – immunization not authorized; and
- Pregnant women should receive one dose of the unadjuvanted vaccine, of which Canada has ordered 1.8 million doses. In cases where the unadjuvanted vaccine is unavailable and pandemic H1N1 flu rates are high or increasing in the community, women more than 20 weeks pregnant should be offered one dose of the adjuvanted vaccine.
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