Immunization Newsbriefs

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April 13, 2001

 

“Ottawa Allows Use of Unlicensed Vaccine”

Calgary Herald (www.calgaryherald.com) (04/13/01) P. A11

In an effort to stem an outbreak of invasive meningitis in Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canadian health officials will allow the use of the Conjugate C meningococcal vaccine.  Already, seven people have been infected with the disease, including two who died.  The B.C. Center for Disease Control will be able to acquire as many as 28,000 doses of the vaccine, which has not been licensed for use in Canada.  The vaccine has, however, been used in the United Kingdom and is stronger [more effective] than the polysaccharide vaccine licensed in Canada.  The decision is the first to allow a not-yet-licensed vaccine in an immunization program in Canada.

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