H1N1: Is the Canadian Response Correct?

Note these two recent media pieces:

1) Novavax, Inc. (NASDAQ: NVAX), Rockville, Md. has announced its initial agreement to license its proprietary, recombinant virus-like-particle (VLP) vaccine technology to ROVI Pharmaceuticals (Madrid: ROVI) of Spain. ROVI will use the VLP technology to create a comprehensive influenza vaccine solution for the Spanish government under a new 60 million-euro program sponsored and led by the Spanish Ministry of Health and other government groups to develop pandemic and seasonal flu vaccines and establish its only in-border facility. This program, which was announced today by Spanish health officials, is being launched to develop safe and effective flu vaccines to serve the entire population of Spain.
Source: http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0DHC/is_8_21/ai_n32373958/

2) Canada’s health minister says there will be enough vaccine against H1N1 swine flu for any Canadian who wants it. Speaking to CTV’s Canada AM Tuesday, Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq said officials in her ministry are currently finalizing a decision about how much swine flu vaccine to order. “The purchase order for the vaccine will be finalized this week,” Aglukkaq said. “In terms of the availability of vaccine, any Canadian who wants the vaccine or needs it will be able to receive the vaccine come the fall.” Canada has a contract with GlaxoSmithKline to produce its necessary quantities of pandemic flu vaccine. Officials have a deadline of July 31 to finalize the number of doses to order for the fall. Ontario’s chief medical officer of health, Dr. Arlene King, said Monday that the first shipments of vaccine should start around mid-November, but she cautioned there may be a shortfall at first. “It is important that we plan for the possibility that we’re not going to have the amount that we need right from the outset,” King said at a meeting of Ontario public health officials discussing pandemic preparations.
Source: http://www.ctvbc.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20090728/flu_vaccine_090728/20090728/?hub=BritishColumbiaHome

Is Canada taking the correct approach?

Does Your Lab have a Continuity Plan for a Fall Flu Pandemic?

Canadian companies and organizations are being urged in a new report to consider the swine flu pandemic as a “business continuity crisis” and to put response plans in place now, before the fall flu season arrives.

The Conference Board of Canada report released Monday examines the actions some organizations have already taken and provides advice on what should be included in pandemic response plans.

The Conference Board report urges organizations to shift their thinking, if they haven’t already, in preparation for the fall.

“Organizations would do well to begin shifting their thinking that this is a medical crisis and, therefore, belongs to the medical profession, and recognize that a pandemic is also an economic and business continuity crisis. As such, it needs as much leadership from the business community as it does from pandemic specialists,” the report said.

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