Updated: Wed Nov. 04 2009 21:00:46

CTV.ca News Staff

The federal government will ship 1.8 million doses of the swine flu vaccine to the provinces and territories next week, CTV News has learned.

Government sources confirmed to CTV News that the figure includes a shipment of unadjuvanted vaccine doses that have been developed for pregnant women.

The figure is considerably lower than the three million doses the government had hoped to ship each week beginning next week.

The news comes a day after Canada's chief public health officer said the country's pandemic vaccine manufacturer has shipped bulk quantities of parts of the vaccine out of the country.

In remarks to a news conference Tuesday in Vancouver, Dr. David Butler-Jones said GlaxoSmithKline has shipped bulk quantities of the antigen, the main ingredient of the vaccine, to other nations that need it.

Butler-Jones explained that GSK has made more antigen than can be bottled and since enough has been produced for Canada's needs, the surplus went overseas.

Meanwhile, Canadians are being told that there is so little vaccine being sent to the provinces this week, some flu shot clinics have had to be closed.

Alberta had to cancel clinics over the weekend, and has been forced to limit access to the vaccine this week. Only children between six months and under five years of age are receiving the shots, though on Friday, the program will be expanded to include pregnant women.

Nova Scotia too has been forced to restrict access to the vaccine this week to just young children under five years of age and pregnant women. Adults with chronic illnesses are being told to wait.

The slowdown in getting vaccine out to the flu clinics appears to lie in the processes that come after vaccine antigen is produced at GSK's plant in Ste-Foy, Que.

After production, it is bottled into vials and then passed through a "fill line" for quality control and distribution. But it appears the antigen is being produced faster than the vials can be filled, so the excess is being exported.

A spokesperson for GlaxoSmithKline explained to a number of news outlets Tuesday that enough of the antigen had been produced to meet Canada's target of making available 50.4 million doses of vaccine. Because they had an excess, they are now exporting the excess for filling for international markets, including the World Health Organization.

The spokesperson did not indicate how much excess antigen was produced, nor did she say when or where it was shipped.

Butler-Jones assured Canadians that the bulk exports won't slow down the country's swine flu vaccination campaign and won't impact how long Canadians wait to be immunized.

"There has been bulk vaccine that we're not able to actually fill here so that has been exported," he said. "But all of the vaccine that we can fill in Canada has stayed and will stay in Canada until our immunization is complete."

But at flu shot clinics across the country, supplies remain low and lineups continue.

The shortage problem worsened this week when GSK shifted its focus to preparing and shipping vaccine without adjuvant for pregnant women.

GSK said Tuesday it has now finished producing that version of the vaccine and is again focusing efforts on the vaccine intended for the majority of Canadians.

Around seven million have been distributed so far to provinces and territories, and shipments dropped to 436,000 doses this week.

Butler-Jones brushed off criticism that the vaccination campaign has been bungled. He said the reality is that just a week into the campaign 10 to 20 per cent of the people in many communities have been vaccinated -- more than any other country in the world.

Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq also noted that the government could have waited until there were sufficient doses for all Canadians to implement the immunization program, but instead they decided to roll out the vaccine early to target those most at risk.

A big price tag

Newly released figures from Ottawa and the provinces say the H1N1 vaccine will cost about $400 million, not including related costs.

The federal government is picking up 60 per cent of the tab for the 50 million shots, with the provinces paying the rest.

Ottawa will pay out another $78 million in costs for Health Canada, the Public Health Agency of Canada, and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.

That bill includes: developing emergency and strategic plans, surveillance and outbreak management, communications, and overtime, among other costs. The government's public awareness campaign will cost an additional $4.5 million.

Questions about single vaccine supplier

Meanwhile, critics blasted the Conservative government Tuesday for going to only one company for the H1N1 vaccine.

If Canada, like the U.S., used multiple vaccine suppliers, critics charged, the country might have avoided the bottlenecks that formed while trying to get the vaccine out to Canadians.

"Getting 50 million doses from one company is like trying to fill 50 million cups of water from the same tap," accused NDP health critic Judy Wasylycia-Leis.

Canada's H1N1 vaccine is made exclusively by GlaxoSmithKline, which signed a 10-year contract in 2001 with the then-Liberal government to develop and produce enough vaccine for the entire population in the event of a pandemic.

The contract was awarded to Shire BioChem, a company that gave $57,000 to the Liberal Party in 2001. The company has since been bought out by GSK, but the contract remained valid since it secured the Ste. Foy vaccine production facility.

Aglukkaq said the agreement has worked well.

"The domestic supplier I think has worked very well in our favour," she told the Vancouver news conference. "In Canada, we are doing better than any other country in producing vaccine on a per-capita basis with one company."

But Butler-Jones told the Toronto Star it's now being considered whether there's an "additional advantage" to having another supplier for pandemic flu vaccine, to help "hedge our bets."

"That's something that we will come back to, to think about after we deal with what we've got now," he said.

A spokesperson for Prime Minister Stephen Harper also told the newspaper the government is willing to rethink its pandemic plan."

"I think it's fair to say that right now once this has passed, that we will be reconsidering and re-examining all parts of the plan to see what worked, whether it was the coordination between the government and the provinces, whether it's the choice of a single supplier," Andrew MacDougall said.

"I think it would be wise once this has passed to look at what has happened and to have those discussions only with the benefit of hindsight."

With reports from The Canadian Press

Comments are now closed for this story

CAB
IS THIS REALLY TRUE. HOW CAN THIS BE? Who is responsible for this decision, the supplier? If yes, we cannot control this. If it is a government, then what minister or civil servant allowed for this?

You know I sometimes think the supply is not the problem, but rather the decision at the provincial levels in terms of who could distribute the vaccine. In Ontario for example, the Provincial government determined it was the local health Units who determined and planned for the distribution, yet in some communities like Cornwall Ontario, there are rumors that Health Unit staff and their families were given the vaccine as a priority prior to the high risk clinics. Other communities seemed to have limited access and staff running the limited clinics as opposed to a problem with the amount of vaccine.

Tori
Sounds like a money grab situation for the drug manufacturers. Vaccines to the highest bidder.....

Roger T
I believe I've mentioned this on yesterdays post that our Gov't is SOOO FOCUSED on abroad rather than fixing what is an internal problem here. Our Gov't is SOOO WORRIED ABOUT SAVING FACE TO THE WORLD that it needs to abandone it's own citizens just to make a statement on the world stage which one one cares about. FIX THE INTERNAL PROBLEMS HERE and MORE FOCUS ON THE INTERNAL PROBLEMS HERE RATHER THAN ABROARD.Is our Gov't having identity crisis with all the in-fighting and the fall outs from their own party members. Perhaps, this is why the Gov't has failed ALL CANADIANS on every front.The SWINE FLU will continue to spread and the death rates will continue to climb while the kids bicker in Parliment!

bc grrl
does this count as foreign aid?

nbjess
There was no doubt in my mind this is what happened to the Vaccine. I talked about this earlier this week to friends, saying it was probably sold outside the country. Now that we hear where it was made, and shipped from it dosent surprise me.

Edm Vic
Ok people grow up and listen to what they said, Canada's supply is guaranteed they have made enough for Canada and can now help the other countries. I have never in my life seen or heard so many stupid people or Liberal people in my life!!!!

Westerner
Mathematics people!! Canadians - Out of Country Supplies - High Priority People = Balance of Canadian Population Receiving Vaccine. Looks like Rural towns have a slim chance of getting this Vaccine! To note how come HOCKEY PLAYERS had access to the PRIVATE SHOTS OF THE H1N1 VACCINE! WHO RECEIVED THE PAYOUT AND AT WHAT COST???? Money obviously speaks and those who don't have it are second place! There needs to be ALOT of answers regarding: production, control, distribution and priorities from the manufacturers, government and health practioners to ALL CANADIANS. To Many stories from ALL SOURCES and no concrete facts as to where, who, what ,when and how - lots of production from what I see and no concrete answers. I am seeing the obvious results in my town with clinics and supplies - so someone is lying way up the ladder!!!

beeman
There is something really fishy about that 10 year contract. But, at the same time, we are in a much better position than many other countries. I would like to see an analysis of the benefits of this contract to Canada, and then make up my own mind. As for shipping excess production out of the country - keep in mind that these are bulk shipments and they are bottling at full capacity for Canada's needs (working 24/7 I assume?).

Ryan, Guelph
I would be shocked, except that this whole debacle has been horrifically mismanaged. There's no point in pointing the finger at any one group, because everyone has screwed this up. I'm starting to think the entire system from top to bottom is the problem.

JZ
Legitimate Question. Someone who knows please respond: Why did Canada, a nation of 33 million people, order 50.4 million vaccines? I'm sure there's a good explanation.

simon
""""A spokesperson for Prime Minister Stephen Harper also told the newspaper the government is willing to rethink its pandemic plan." """"""""They also rethink about their national disaster Plans if there is one..........................Better still, they should RETHINK about whether they should continue to govern.......

Jim Heny
Ahem...the headline is a little misleading. It is certain PARTS of the vacine that have been sent overseas. Not the completed vaccine. Sort of like having too much flour for a cake. Give the extra flour to your neighbour so they can eat cake too. Hey, there's an idea. Make the vaccine in cake format. Tastes good and no arm muscle ache for a few days after the injection! Take care all and get the flu shot whenever you can.

Regina Ron
I wonder which Saudi Royal household got the "extra" vaccinne. H1N1 has nothing to do with our health and everything to do with money. We are being SCREWED Canada. Time to wake up to that fact.

Sylvain NB
So how many cie actually produce the vaccine if this is so bad and dangerous (H1N1) then why is it only ONE cie that is allowed to do the vaccine. Someone said something about money grab well let see who in the government has share in those cie .

CYL
I guess Ontario Govt is not paying enough money to the supplier for the vaccine, and the company must be getting 2X $ in foreign currency for it.Someone head should be rolling on the chopping block. Come On Who Is It Gonna Be ?

R.W. Dick
A contract for exclusive supply from a company in the event of a pandemic is awarded by the LIBERAL government. Then, when that company is unable to make prompt delivery, the CONSERVATIVES are at fault? Ridiculous proPIGanda, but very typical of them!!!!

david sawkiw[saskatchewan farmer]
The liberals made this deal?? Eight years ago?? During the sponsorship scandal??Specifically hired to make a vaccine for a pandemic that would occur eight years hence??Who did the liberals have working for them at that time?? Edgar Casey, or Nostradamus?? I never realized that liberals were so clairevoyant!! They should be able to predict the outcome of the next election,, so why bother having one.

Heather
If GlaxoSK can ship bulk antigen out of country to be bottled elsewhere for use elsewhere, why the heck can't they ship bulk antigen to another Canadian pharma company to be bottled HERE for use HERE?Idiots. There's no excuse. Actually I take that back. I'm sure they aren't idiots. They very deliberately don't want to share their piece of the pie with another Cdn pharma company and the Conservatives are letting them get away with it.

Infected in NB, Ste Marie
( the government is willing to rethink it's pandemic plan ) . How can you rethink something you never thought about in the first place? Leona had over half a year to test drive the plan. Now their surprised that this antiquated plan doesn't work on Canada's largest flu inoculation to date. I'm getting very nervous about the capablilities of the appointed people responsible for the health of Canadians.

Kurt
Wow, do any of the previous posters actually read the article or just the headline?"But it appears the antigen is being produced faster than the vials can be filled, so the excess is being exported." This is clearly the media trying to mislead people. And you fell for it...

Fred - Brandon MB
The explanation just doesn't make sense. If we have enough vaccine, then where is it? If we don't, then why are we shippng it abroad. I still don't get it.

Samual
Can we expect any thing else from a conservative government but to sell out it's own people.Harper government does nothing for Canadians.He's probably working on more attack ads, trying to hang on to power & nothing for us.Shame Shame Shame on Harper

Evan in Athabasca
Big money grab by this company, the federal government should sue for breach of contract.

B Wilson
"Canada's H1N1 vaccine is made exclusively by GlaxoSmithKline, which signed a 10-year contract in 2001 with the then-Liberal government to develop and produce enough vaccine for the entire population in the event of a pandemic. The contract was awarded to Shire BioChem, a company that gave $57,000 to the Liberal Party in 2001. The company has since been bought out by GSK, but the contract remained valid since it secured the Ste. Foy vaccine production facility. "Oops! How is Iggy going to spin this one? The company selected by his party is responsible.

MIke Webster, Mississauga
DId anyone except for Edm Vic actually read the article before posting these ridiculous comments? Had you actually read more than just the misleading headline you'd understand that they are NOT sending vaccine out of the country. They are sending SURPLUS antigen out of the country because they have more than enough to produce the 50 million doses the Canadian government purchased. Perhaps some of you require a remedial course in reading comprehension.

shelley
To EDM VIC, who the heck brought the Liberals into this? Give it up already. Run for office, if you feel like it. We all should be questioning our governments, when this type of thing comes up, Federal, Provincial or Municipal and from any party. We, the people, should have the right to access information on our populations' wellbeing.The only stupidity I see here is someone defending a government without proper information to back his comment.

D.K. Lindsay
I see the anti -conservative group jumped on the band wagon right away,IT IS NOT THE VACCINE THAT IS BEING SENT OVERSEAS. Read the article . The headline is very misleading. It is the SURPLUS of Antigen that is being sent overeas. We are according to all reports manufacturing the vaccine to its full capacity.My God get a grip people.

Norman
Moral of the story we need a state owned supplier fully capable and dedicated to Canadian needs. Not a greedy foreign multi-national. On the heals of the Auditor General's report yesterday, Canada and all its provinces need to get their act together on emergency response planning and materiel readiness. Only then should "surplus" be exported.

RB
What the heck? Healthy people in this country are going to die, because the pipeline of vaccine is so narrow that only children and people with chronic conditions can pass through it right now.And despite the fact that there are people who will die (who otherwise wouldn't if the governments' collective acts were together)..... they're sending this stuff off to other countries? I am utterly flabbergasted at this!!!

Dawn Polinski
I beleive that our biggest problem is that everyone was herding themselves over to the clinics to stand in line for hours! This flu spreads in groups and the public needs to be informed that by standing in line in large groups you are not only vulnerable, but, what is the panic all about! Let the Clinics decide whom is getting there shots in whatever order. Please do not hoard the vaccine for yourselves. Think about the most vulnerable of our children and seniors. Then pregnant women, and then Chronic Ilness. That is what the clinics have been saying all along. Why can't we just support them and have enough patience to wait a couple of weeks. In the mean time learn how to best protect yourselves.

mpf3791
looks like gsk is in full damage control mode now - is anyone really buying this BS? sorry people of canada....GSK can't make enough vaccine for you, but ironically they have a surplus of antigen, the key ingredient...so they might as well sell it to the highest bidder. YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING. investigate these bastards!

Marc
This country spends more time helping other countries and worrying about how the country looks to the rest of the world rather than fixig our own problems. Not to mention we cater to immigrants in our own country. This once great country is making me sick.

Disgusted
What a joke! People who are in high risk groups in Northern Ontario are having to wait because of no vaccines being available.I think who ever did this needs to give their heads a shake!

Oh well
People are putting too much faith in this vaccine anyways. The Moncton Wildcats hockey team all received their vaccination. Now most of the team is quarantined, two are confirmed to have H1N1, while the majority of the team and coaching staff have flu like symptoms. They are all healthy people who received the vaccine.And for all of the people who think if a child (or anyone else) catches H1N1 they will, my three year old nephew (who lives on Vancouver Island where H1N1 has been really bad), caught H1N1 and made a full recovery without drugs, vaccine, or anything like that. Just common sense and good parenting.

Jt
RBFrom reports alot of those who have died have had other medical conditions.Yes some healthy people might have died but it seems this affects those with other medical issues the most.

jons
people , people please read the article over and over till you understand it , nobody is selling us short this is a surplus of antigen, we have enough for our suppply , the problem in production is putting it bottles and getting it out.

hutch4101
We have a surplus? Now that is a surprise!!!!All the clinics in this area are closed due to a shortage......hmmmmm. I have been told that my age group will get the vaccine "for sure" in a few weeks or could it be months? Will I still need it in May? Oh the winding road of governments, the hair splitting of politicians and the frenzy of the media, hungry for every story. Who to believe????

duyendang
is this true?, i can not beleived it.......please help us here before help some one else aboard

John from Saskatoon
I betcha now that Calgary Flames and their families got the H1N1 Flu Shot Iggy & the Big ZZ will want to be named General Manager & Coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs so they can get their flu shots , if they wait till they go back to the States they will miss out and maybe kick the Bucket

Kathy
What I find even more interesting ... the female in the photo attached to this article is not even wearing gloves while giving the injection...

Cambob in Toronto
Anyone who believes that this is not a pure business venture is woefully misinformed.

cxr
Huh! A lot of analysis here for a simple problem. The provinces are restricting vaccines to Canadians, while the gov is planning to ship outside the country. There is no rational explanation for this. Either the restrictions are real or there has been a massive breakdown in communication to Canadians. 'Who's on first?'

Number Cruncher
A 10 year exclusive contract given to 1 Quebec company, signed, sealed and delivered by a former Liberal Gov't. (Other articles point specifically at the Cretien Gov't.) Even tho they're not officially in power anymore, we're STILL paying for their brain dead decision making. I wonder who the Lib Cabinet Minister was who profited from THIS sweet heart deal. Remember this fiasco when it comes time to vote for our next Fed Gov't!

Sam Winsor
To Shelly: There is also the stupidity of attacking anybody without adequate information. To Mike Webster: Great idea! A course in remeaial reading comprehension. If only, eh? At the same time a course in honesty in headline writing?

penny
SO...the antigen is being shipped out...SO...do they mean they can't mix it with the adjuvant? Is the adjuvant the "other" ingredient? Why not give us the pure antigen, then? Screw the adjuvant...the US has antigen WITHOUT adjuvant. AND...I read our doses of unadjuvanted vaccine were coming from Austraila...what's up with GSK and the GOV using the production of unadjuvanted vaccine as the excuse for not having enough of the regular vaccine? I wish some reporters would dig a little...there is much more to this story.

Mexico Ex-Pat
Looks like the Feds dropped the ball on this one...if even one person dies because of this fiasco, you can be sure the public will crucify Harper and his party. This is supposed to be the moment where a Federal Government is supposed to shine and show the people that there is enough to go around for all, and that we don't have the scenes like they have in the USA (people lining up for hours to get a shot).Absolute f@#king disgrace~!

Just
Thats right MASS PANIC will get the whole Canadian population vaccinated in a quick hurry................ Can anyone say R E L A X things are going forward maybe not as fast as everyone would like, but i am sure that it'll all come together this month..All of you NA sayers grow up, wash your hands cough in your sleeve and or stay home and lock your doors !!

Christine
Silly question, but if the antigen is being produced faster than they can "bottle it" then how are they shipping the antigen abroad? It must be bottled somehow. The whole mess stinks.

Brian
why do canadians always seem to say they're so giving...yet when anyone needs help...we cry about it!!

Craig
Many commenters on here seem to have missed a couple of key points:1) the antigen (the part of the vaccine being exported) is being produced faster than it can be bottled and distributed within Canada; and2) the limitation (1 producer) partly to blame for the production delay is due to exclusivity granted by the former Liberal gov't.Given those two facts, neither the current Conservative gov't, nor GlaxoSmithKline are doing anything wrong. In fact, given the current Cdn immunization rate (compared to other nations), I'd suggest we're doing VERY well. Keep up the good work! Go Flames Go (tongue-in-cheek)!

Jamie
It's all about $MONEY$!!!! The government don't care about Canadians! It's time to get rid of this government for good, because they don't care about us!!!!

Diane
Come now,If this was a real crisis why do we not have the military and every available medical organization out there delivering the vaccine on mass?This whole "pandemic" is being handled in a flakey manner. People will die and fingers will be pointed and drug companies will make a lot of money.And just like our "socialized " heath care system people with power and money will go to the head of the line.

Mitch
Wow unbelievable.Good thing the Calgary Flames got their shots.Makes you proud to be CcanadianGAG

Art
Why is it that we attack each other for our opinions? If I have decided that the Conservative Gov't is responsible for this fiasco, that is my opinion. Don't criticize me for that. We are approaching Remembrance Day when we are to remember the sacrifices those that died in wars made for our freedoms, including the freedom to voice my opinion.The fact that hundreds of thousands of Canadians have been waiting in line ups for ridiculous amounts of time, only to hear the company has had excess stock of antigens, is ridiculous.Despite the fact that the previous government assigned the contract years ago, it is up to the current government to ensure the company acts in the best interest of Canadians. The current government is responsible for the well being of all Canadians, and I feel they have failed us here.If we all listened to, and respected, each other's opinions, and stopped behaving like children, we would only force our elected politicians to do the same.Imagine the country Canada would be if this were the case.

MC
Some of the people here need to read the article and not just the headline before commenting...

ron
I want a government that puts Canadians first...to hell with the foreigners.

Don in the US?
Blame CTV Media for the misleading headline! They should re-read their own article. Our media is sensationalizing and spinning articles more and more every day. Won't be long our media will be just like the US, driving everyone into a frenzy with even the most obscure article.

Jim McB
Canadians are panicking and the media is fuelling it. People are starting to believe that if you get the flu you die, if you get the vaccine you will be saved. Neither is true.There will be vaccine enough for everyone in due course, and this panic will go down as a dark spot in Canadian history. I am ashamed of the behaviour of many of my fellow Canadians, and shipping vaccine to high risk people where they need it now as opposed to feeding our phoney frenzy gets my vote.

CDN-STIG
These people are truly incompetent It is about time that we start making our public servants and in that statement I also mean the politicians criminally accountable for betraying the public good and or trust.

Socialist Sam
State owned supplier? Are you freaking crazy? This would only compound the problem. Crown Corporations and Government Depts are not quite efficient enough to run this kind of operation. I thought that was kind of obvious with the radio isotope supply issues.

Greg
Amazing how few of you can actually read. There is already more than enough bulk unbottled for Canada. They can't bottle it fast enough. No bottled vaccine is being shipped out. People too stupid to understand the article should be excluded from the vaccine, Darwin's rules.

Jt
Mexico Ex-PatThe states is having issues.Yes there may not be as many lines up part of that maybe because there still lacking a massive amount of vaccine.

Lyle
Just how many of you read the article? They shipped the ANTIGEN over seas not the vaccine. Two different things! Pay attention and try not to be so ignorant with your comments.

Jer
Yes Canadians are panicking and rightfully so. I have a chronic illness and live with someone with cancer who is undergoing chemo and radiation. Both of our immune systems are very low. But yet we don't qualify to get the vaccine. I fully understand what the ARTICLE says, but why can't they find a way to increase the production or filling of the vials. Isn't this supposed to be a priority? The canadian population has been very mislead by our officials. The Canadian Health minister should not be in this position, however now isn't the time to talk politics. Lets focus on controlling the situation at hand. THEN we can review it, like we know will be done.

Dan
We're turning people away in lineup...only certain people can get the shot. Meanwhile our surplus is being sent to other country. Some heads should role. Lets treat all Canadian first the sent the surplus to other countries. Come on people use your head...I'm totally discusted...........

Mercedes
what the !!!!! what is going on??? i've got 3 toddler grandchildren who are in need of this vaccine and yet somehow we cannot seem to get one. we have to line up and get a number to see the doctor's receptionist!!! what do you think of that.
i wish i did not read this article.

M.A.R.
This only means that we will have to wait a bit longer to get the vaccine. By the time the general population can get the vaccine we will all already have H1N1, at the current rate I hear people in my own city are getting it.However, keep in mind that when we get sick we have a solid healthcare system that can help us - not all countries have this luxury. I agree that they should help out those in need first.

Suzanne
I am so upset I brought my daughter to get the H1N1 flu shot and thought I would also get one I am a flight Attendant and have to perform first aid on flights I would say 1 out of every 4 flights people throw up, I also have to give oxygen to some who feel faint and check there pulse ect... Now when I do a flight with no medical assistants onboard I think I will stay back and do nothing since I can't get it until I do then I will?

Steve from Toronto
"GSK has made more antigen than can be bottled and since enough has been produced for Canada's needs, the surplus went overseas."

As long as GSK met it's contractual obligations with Canada, it is free to do with the extra product as it see's fit. If there is a buyer overseas, then it gets shipped overseas.

The media is steering the public in the wrong direction yet again. The media is nor longer just reporting the new, THEY ARE MAKING THE NEWS! And the public falls for it everytime. Now the media can keep this story afloat for a couple of days until they can find something else pick at.

Like reporting the shortages. The goverment and the news outlet knew that GSK was going to spend last week making the pregnant woman's version of the vaccine last week. Based on the original schedule, there would have been no problems. But the media got involved and made the story.

I blame the media for the panic that hit Canada last week, forcing many clinics to open early and take on far more clients than expected. By causing the panic, the media created the week long stories about the long lines and then another week's worth of stories about shortages.

This is a flu. 25,000 Canadians die due to flu complications every year. H1N1 has kill not even 0.01% of that number. You have a greater chance of dying in an auto accident right after getting your H1N1 shot, then you do, dying of the flu itself.

But the media will never report that fact!

JTP
calm down!The supplier shipped a portion of vaccine *ingredient* elsewhere in the world as they had made too much of that *ingredient* and could not use it all.Read the article. Breath deeply. Production of vaccine is still the maximum that the supplier can produce.

SpinMeNot
So the Liberals signed this one supplier 10 year contract for vaccines and yet they have the nerve to suggest that Harper made this strategic error? And the Liberals received a $57,000 contribution from the supplier the same year they signed the contract. Same old, same old, Liberals. And the story intentionally tries to make us believe we could have used the surplus antigen (not vaccine) that was shipped abroad by juxtaposing the fact that we are lining up at the same time that antigen is being shipped abroad. Trash journalism!!!

Pip
I find it truly amazing that so many posters either did not read the article carefully, understand the content or understand the process of bottling the vaccine. Anyone who has worked in any sort of production facility knows that it takes a measurable amount of time to do a job, like filling a bottle. They should also know that it takes time to clean and sterilize machinery so that a different product - unadjuvented vaccine in this case - can be bottled. As it is, the required amout nof unadjuvanted vaccine has now been bottled and GSK is on a run that will deliver the rest of the fifty-odd million doses required by contract. So, they made too much in the first instance. What is better - that they deliver it elsewhere for bottling and distribution in nations without the ability to produce the basic material, or just destroy it? Really, this whole mess has been way overblown, not helped by those who know next to nothing trying to make the sky fall, and certainly not helped by CTV using misleading headlines! Even CTV should be able to understand that the headline itself - with missing information - caused most of the panicky and indignant posts. Please, do not overestimate the ability of your audience to read carefully!

mark
All of you babies out there suck it up and live your life. It is not the end of the world!

Cary Tarasoff
First we were told that 200,000 doses were bought from Australia for Pregnant woment. Still they are slowing production of the main dose to make more for pregnant women. How many pregnant women are there in Canada? They report that there isnt' enough vaccine made - now they say it's made - just not bottled. And people are getting sick and in extreme cases - dying without it. The story changes by the hour. It's obvious that the Feds want to blame the Provinces and alike but the Provinces can't do anything without vaccine. And that is the Federal responsibility that they are deflecting from. This is just a good example of very very poor leadership and dissemination of information.

heather
Oh my people.
READ THE WHOLE ARTICLE PLEASE!!!!!

No wonder we've idiots in power... idiots voted for them! Sorry to be so rude but for crying out loud! Actually read the whole article, every single word in it, before you go spouting off!

Portes
Firstly, read the article and secondly, no not panic. It is time that people stop posting absolute rubbish on this site and check their facts first. There was a poll this morning re the Iggy statement and 68% of those polled thought it was a political gimmick, the poll also asked what the solution would be and the answer SUPRISE SUPRISE work together to solve this problem. People in this country are fed up with all the grand standing in Ottawa, by all parties and they want only one thing for all parties to work together and not use this H1N1 problem for political cheap shots. If we work together then the problem will be solved, ig we keep biskering it will go on and on, to no ones advantage. This happened in the past with Sars in 2003 and it will happen again , as governments do not more as quickly as you and I. The problem is the civil serbants, what takes you 1 day to do takes them 4. It is not their fault entirely as they have all the red tape to go through

Craig from NS
I'm amazed at the amount of people who read from this story what they want to read. As mentioned earlier. The Canadian supply is available. It just needs to be bottled. That takes time as a manufacturing process can only go so fast. The rest which would never have been bottled (the surplus) is being sent abroad.Where exactly is the problem?

Johnny Kananaskis
I'm $ure there i$ a good rea$on why the $upplier has $hipped exce$$ vaccine abroad.

H. donker, Dundas, Ont.
Why don't we hear about not needing the vaccine, because as our school children are getting the flu, bringing it home to the parents,the doctors will not test to see if that is what they have? Is it not true that if you have had a virus and survived, you are then immune to getting the virus again?If the flu going around in Hamilton is H1N1, and the schools that our kids attend have had this circulating , are we not then immune and have no need for the vaccine?

SN
Are some people under the impression that GlaxoSmithKline is run by the goverment or something, and Harper is at the controls?

It's a privately owned company. The gov't is not shipping vaccines abroad you morons, Glaxo is. Complain to them.

Some of the comments on here frighten me when they show how ill-informed adults can be about simple concepts like private vs state ownership. Holy cow!

We need reading and IQ tests for people to be able to vote.

Nick in Gatineau
So government agencies deemed National Security got it, Health Care front-line workers got it, Hockey Players got it. Most probably, Conservative MP's got it. Financial Institution board members also go it. But the ordinary Canadian except the high risk groups - which no-one is sure which are high risk at this point - have not got it. It is not available to them. So if a mother and father cannot get a shot, but their 1 year old can. What happens when Mom and dad die from the virus ? Was it good policy ? Don't think so.Guess I know where the Government's priorities are. It is certainly not with the people.

Rhea
Fire David Butler-Jones - such incompetence is intolerable period. Why ship our vaccine to the WTO???? Why not the USA - (our best trading partner) - that country is also in short supply. Who has paid for the product???? I grossly resent the vaccine going out of Canada to a poorer non-paying nation, when most of our residents have to wait until Nov. 30 or Christmas. The quantity of vaccine produced was miscalculated and heads should roll - big time. The pregnant women fiasco was also a huge blunder. CUT THE EXCUSES AND GET ON WITH THE JOB. I still would expect that these same dunder heads have ordered a sufficient supply of body bags!!!!!!! DISGUSTED

Mead
We have plenty of vaccine coming. Nobody is dying yet from lack of vaccine, at least not yet.We do have a moral obligation to help the rest of the world, so long as it does not compromise our lives locally.Relax, we are covered. Until you get your shot, play it safe and lie low.

Kadjere
Is this another example of bureaucratic overzealousness?Yesterday, we needed more supplies. Today the wind is blowing from the opposite direction. Talk about planning and efficiency! When will they ever get their acts together. LOL

Vince M
JZ asked "Legitimate Question. Someone who knows please respond: Why did Canada, a nation of 33 million people, order 50.4 million vaccines? I'm sure there's a good explanation."My understanding is the World Health Organization originally stated children should have a shot followed by a subsequent second shot several days later. I believe that has since changed to a single shot being adequate.That and you always want to order a surplus in case a shipment is damaged (such as a trucking accident).

Rob, Hamilton
JZ,I believe it was reported that we ordered 50 million doses so that either A) everybody in Canada could be vaccinated once, or B) 70% of the population could get two vaccines. At the time, it wasn't clear if one vaccine was sufficient, or if a second, booster, vaccine was needed, so to be safe they ordered 50 million doses.

RK
So if there is a "filling" bottleneck, why don't they ship the bulk vaccine to other domestic pharmaceutical companies to process into vials? This is nuts!

Bevan in Winnipeg
Of course the Liberals see this as an opportunity to blast the Conservatives and thus, hopefully gain points with public opinion. How cynical and cheap of them. But what can one expect from the "Rightful Governing party"?Just a reminder: It was a Liberal government that permitted a sole source provider of this type of vaccine.In any event, it is not the fault of either the fedral or provincial governments that people are listening now to the health warnings about H1N1 and wanting the vaccine, Right Now!

?'s BC
Could we get information on what specific parts of the vaccine are the bottleneck. Could they not have send bulk surplus quantities out of the antigen to immunize pregnant women since they need the vaccine without the adjuvant. If the antigen is the main part of the vaccine and the adjuvant is added almost like an extender (you require less antigen with the adjuvant) is this why we have the calculated surplus? What are the issues about sending bulk quantities for use?

C. Porter in Courtice
I don't thnk many people really observe the facts before making statements. Is there a shortage...no. 50.4 millions doses for 35 million Canadians doesn't sound like a shortage issue. You can only bottle so many vaccines at a time. Also, peope (well, Liberal ones anyway) like to blame the current government when it was the Liberal government that inked the contract with a single manufacturer. There are still millions of Canadians who don't even want to receive the shot. We'll all receive it in time and this will all blow over....until the next scare....maybe 2012....

M. Cameron
Ladies and Gentlemen, your Conservative Party at work - for other countries.

Prynce
NOTICE It was the Liberal Government in 2001 at the time that created part of this mess? However from the time the government becomes aware of an issue it takes a fair amount of time for any Government bureaucracy to begin moving their resources to correct situations remember there are tens of thousands of public servants in government who have to be brought on the same page as government policy. Although, I do hope the government hedges it bets on more then 1 or 2 production facilities, they should be sure to have production facilities in strategic geographic locations in order to hedge it bets should a facility or two become inoperable due to catastrophe or pandemic in its area.

Joanne from Ottawa
This is for JZ - we need over 50 million doses of the vaccine because children (under a certain age, 10 I think) need 2 doses a few weeks apart to develop complete immunity.

Suzanne T (Lower Mainland)
Last night a comedian (who shall remain nameless) said... Why don't we get the people who make crystal meth responsible for the creation and distribution of the vaccine? They do a very effective job of doing that with illicit drugs!

Sadly, it might be true!

Duane in Calgary
And how many who have commented blamed the Flames for a lack of vaccines?

The whole problem has been an utter lack of planning on the part of the federal and provincial governments. That is where the blame lies.

Vince M
"So if there is a filling bottleneck, why don't they ship the bulk vaccine to other domestic pharmaceutical companies to process into vials?"Apart from the obvious that they have the contract, do you think there are suitable sterilized facilities just sitting around in Canada waiting for vaccine bottling work? Have you any idea how specialized and expensive this task is? Can you imagine the outcry if the manufacturer farmed this outside their own quality assurance process and someone died from a shot?

david sawkiw[saskatchewan farmer]
I'm thinking back in time here... Was it not Allan Rock, a liberal MP involved with some big drug company over,,, Hmmm what was that,,, Cipro maybe???

Scott Co
'GlaxoSmithKline has shipped bulk quantities of the antigen, the main ingredient of the vaccine' Read the article people!!!This isn't even news worthy.Btw, I'm in the U.S., and still no clinics set up for the swine flu vacine.

Andrew
I really think the media should stop misleading its readers by using headlines like were used in this article. The article states that the "excess anitgen" not the actual "Vaccine" were sent abroad. Yet the title and many people on this board think it was the vaccine that was sent abroad. Just as stating that this was to be a "epidemic" and that tens of thousands would die. This article is just creating more fear and sensationalism.

Fred
The more important question is: Was this a sole source contract? A $330 million contract, locked in for 10 years with no competition, going to a single company. Were there other bidders, was there a competition? That is a big no no. If this was a sole source contract, this could be worse for Liberals than the $150 million sponsorship scandal. It would demonstrate they they don't follow the rules

Scott ONT
man o' man.just read through all the comments.We as a people are stupid. I agree, an IQ, reading and civics test ought to be required before one can vote. This is nuts. And to Suzanne the flight attendant. I fly about 120 segments a year and have seen one person through up, 1 in 4 flights? come on. And to those that think that H1N1 is a killer, I caught it last year in the first wave in Amarillo Texas. I was holed up in my hotel room for two days and got better. It's not a total killer, so far it's not showing much more of a mortality rate than the regular flu. People need to do a little research instead of relying on what the media pumps across the airwaves to get their information.

RT
Did anyone actually read this article??? If you could tone down the screaming rage and read past the headline you would see that it is simply antigen being shipped, of which we have a great excess that was not being used. How dare we help out another country! We should have just thrown that excess in the garbage.

Jon SK
This whole H1N1 debacle has been a gong-show from day 1. Mixed messages, poor planning, and zero foresight. Perhaps the well-paid men and women in Ottawa need to start getting some things done for the people of this country. I am SOO sick and tired of paying taxes to support a crew that is self serving, manipulative and far too focused on their standing in the polls to see past their own noses. Absolutely shameful!

VINCE
Hay, people that are not able to read the rest of the article, don't leave a half baked comments. It makes absolute perfect sense. There is no value, the EXCESS Antigen to be kept sitting around because of a production bottle neck. Any one who says different is completely is simply clueless, and should join the rest the Liberal party. It is a private company, and if they make more then we can use, why not sell it to someone else, and they can maybe save a life as well.Plus, typical of Liberals - who signed the exclusive agreement with the company to be Canada's sole supplier - Since they gave heavely to the Liberal party. Since the Liberal agreement is close to ending, maybe we can do something else.

john
Don't worry everyone who wants a shot will get one. We are further ahead with our shots than any other country,including ones with multiple suppliers. Don't you people read ? You guys see conspiracy and government bungling in everything. If you can do better volunteer to do so and quit whining.

Randy
I wonder if the vaccine hold outs are now wanting to stand in line.

Maybe this shortage was to make the 'nay' crowd say 'yay'.

Only time will tell, how this flu unfolds this winter season.

William Stuart
Why not ship the "EXTRA"???bulk vaccine to another pharmacutical plant in CANADA, and have TWO lines filling our vaccine needs????That must be to simple for David Butler Jones!!!

Melanie
Somebody may have my dose, if they like. Ah, people lining up to get their dose of poison, they wouldn't drink the stuff but they have no problems having it injected into their arms.

Anthony
I was going to get the vaccine shot today but then I realized there may be shortage. Since I am not a child, nor a Flames hockey player my only chance is to go out and try to get pregnant. Mind you the odds are against me...Maybe if I were to travel to some country Canada send vaccine to - well that's a possibility...

Get the vaccine
Well planned out vaccination program. I don't think so. We finally got a vaccination clinic here in my part of Saskatchewan this morning. First not one poster was posted in town to even say the clinic was going to be on. The clinic was supposed to start at 9.30a.m. ( I had found info on it on the internet) and they kept telling us to be patient extra staff was comming to help get it going. They did start on time but the extra staff did not show up until 10.a.m. They gave us numbers. Now that should be easy number 1 goes first and so on. The number 1 person was sitting there and they had already put three people ahead of her. Finally they must have remembered the numbers and she got to go.

Cara B, NS
@ Edm Vic et al: You are wasting your time. There is a huge segment of our population that is in the grip of such mass hysteria that no amount of common sense or logic will get through to them. Trying to confuse them with the facts will only result in them turning on you for not panicing right along with them. That you (and I and others) remain calm enough to actually read the article seems to simply fuel their hysteria. Watch how many thumbs down I get for pointing that out :)

bc grrl
i see so many thumbs down to my previous comment, why???our tax $$$ have paid for that antigen, if the surplus is being shipped to other countries there is a huge question there! if it is going to an undeveloped country it should count as foreign aid, something given to help out those in need, i'm all for that!if it is being sold to another developed nation then were is the paycheck going back into the federal pockets? i am sure that GSK isn't doing this out of the goodness of their hearts, they are a business that needs to run in the black just like every other business!fact is...a majority of canadians who want to get stuck with the big needle will not be able to get it by time the virus is full blown for the umpteenth time! nature will have run her course and we will have built the immunity naturally! why are so many of you good little sheeple hating those of us who are asking the obvious questions? you have paid for it whether you know it or not and should it not be reconciled on the books as such?

Phil in London
so now another 1.8 Million panick stricken Canadians can over react and run to the clinics. Good for all of them.

AB_Guy
At least the Flames came forward and admitted they jumped the line. Reports are coming out now that some Leafs and Raptors have ALSO been vaccinated. In Calgary EVERYONE was welcome to come for a shot at the time when the Flames got theirs. Contrary to Ontario where only high risk have been allowed. So now we can lay off the Flames for a second and look around our own backyards.....PS The Leafs players interviewed refuse to comment on when and where they got the vaccine... HMMMMM

Rob H
There is only one supplier for federally funded vaccines in Canada because Jean Chretian signed a 10 year contract with that company. The Liberal Party coincidentally received a $50,000 donation that year.

Mead
'If Canada, like the U.S., used multiple vaccine suppliers....'Ummm, isn't the USA 100 times the population of Canada. Some Liberals might consider this a useless point, but a population 100x ours is a significant problem for a single supplier.What is wrong with these Liberals?

Bonnie
I don't believe all the hype that gave way to panic about getting the H1N1 shot. My husband and I both got the regular flu shot and not the H1N1 because we are both over 65 but I'm not so sure I would get it anyway. It felt to me like the scare tactic used when Bush sent everyone to Iraq from Afghanistan. The children in the pictures look tortured by the long needle.

When our children were young, they gave needles in the upper part of the leg (a little more fat there).Also, in the U.S., they show the little children given a spray up the nose. Seems more humane. But I understand that they have a different flu shot than Canada. Sounds like Canada has bought a less effective supply.D id anyone see the PM and his family getting the shots? I heard it said that the Obamas weren't going to give it to their children. Mmmm?

julie
aren't you guys getting tired to talk about H1N1 SWINE FLU VACCINE?
how can they say that it will be save not knowing how might effect the body?
something is fishy cause government never explain about the vaccine and it showed up very last minute...how can they be sure it will be safe???
didn't government had to make second choice before they give vaccine???think about it.

Ron
I understand and agree that vulnerable groups should receive the Swine Flu Vaccine first. When will people like myself in the so called no risk category be allowed off the expendable surplus population list and get the shot?

ian
Why is it that there isn't a banner headline like LIBERALS TO BLAME FOR SINGLE SOURCE OF VACCINE NOT CONSERVATIVES, or something like that. But no, somewhere near the bottom of the article is a small mention that the Liberals signed the deal to sole source the vaccine, back in 2001. There was a piece on CTV news but that's all I've seen or heard. Do you call this fair and unbiased reporting? The president of the Liberal Party and all those who stood up on their pulpit in the HOC should be called out and made to look like the fools they are. And how come there's very little mentioned that it just so happens that the company who got the contract to produce the vaccine also had "coincidentally" donated $56,000 to the Liberal Party just before getting the contract. Hmmm...

LG in Kitchener
I was thankful to note that some of the commenters actually DID read the article. Clearly the media and the media ALONE is responsible for the "fiasco" as they call it. Nothing like a huge dose of hype, distortion and finger-pointing.

Ian
Don't you think that the critics should do their homework instead of constantly jumping to conclusions. apparently the Americans are not getting their citizens vaccinated as fast as we are, and are running out of vaccine themselves, even though they got their vaccine a week earlier, but the opposition keeps saying they are doing better. They criticize the way that we have rolled out the vaccine in small amounts instead of getting it all at once, but don't seem to realize that doing it this way ensures at least that the high risk people get their shots sooner. Stop trying to make political points all the time and work together. And they say that the Conservatives don't want to make parliament work. Sheesh...

Jay
BonnieIn fact the live virus up the nose from what i have heard is not as effective as the needle.

chel in the Peg
So many selfish, self-absorbed commentators competing for status as the "most vulnerable" and "the most entitled." And here I thought we lived in a sane, civilized, and compassionate society. Yuk.

Thinking it's time to move to France....
Why are other countries, like France, not giving their children under the age of 3 the adjuvanted vaccine? They are not the only European country to not give out the adjuvanted vaccine to young children. So what is our rush? Normal Influenza kills more people every year in this country, healthy people too, not just the immuno-compromised. Why isn't the media asking these questions? Time to do some investigative journalism instead of fear-mongering and finger pointing at what government did one. Let's face it, it's all one big political party of idiots in Ottawa anyway. So what is the real scoop world wide? If people just stayed socially responsibile and accountable for their actions, like staying home from work when they are sick, coughing into your sleeve, and washing your hands frequently, perhaps we could contain the spread of the virus. While I'm patiently waiting to get my shot, I would like more information on what exactly is the push for adjuvant. If they have more antibodies, put in more antibodies into the vaccine, and get rid of the adjuvant. Makes sense to me. There is discussion the adjuvant is linked to "Gulf-War Syndrome". Why is that not being discussed. Just because one group of doctors says it's ok to take the adjuvanted vaccine doesn't mean it's ok for everyone. C is still a pass in med school folks. Time to get wise.

Bonnie
Blame the Liberals again. If they signed a deal when they were in power that Harper doesn't like, why didn't he do something about it . Make his own deal, he has cancelled deals lots of times.Little kids playing with fire. He did it, she did it about everything.

Donny G
Sorry, people, but this is all part of a plan to increase demand. People will be killing each other just to get a shot. So they create the hysteria via the media, then they say there's a shortage, while we hear a surplus is getting shipped out of country. So is there a surplus or shortage.Trust me, the flu shot isn't going to keep you from getting the flu. You have to use your head. If you get sick, you have to take the steps to get better, like resting. If you don't do that, you let the flu get a hold of you and there's a point of no return. The kid who died last week probably was overly fatigued from playing hockey, and that's why his body couldn't cope. Just take a deep breath, and if you start feeling a sore throat, and chills, just stay home and rest.