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January 31, 2003

INTERNATIONAL IMMUNIZATION NEWS

"Ontario Government Agrees to Fund Vaccinations for HIV Babies" Canadian Press (www.canpress.ca/english/hp.htm) (01/30/03); Baille, Andrea

In Canada, the government of Ontario has agreed to fund pneumonia, meningitis and chickenpox vaccinations for HIV-infected babies.  Earlier this week, AIDS activists had criticized the government for not funding the shots.  John Goodhew, a Toronto physician and member of the Canadian Treatment Action Council, said the cost of providing the vaccines to every HIV-infected child living with the province is less than C$100,000, and that the government had not explained why they first refused to cover the expenses.  The government estimated this year's costs would actually be double Goodhew's estimate, but the cost would fall back to C$100,000 annually in the years following.

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