The next update will be on Tuesday, November 10th, at 0830 hrs PST.
The WHO Pandemic Alert level remains at Phase 6
Influenza A (H1N1) Cases and Deaths
*Cases reported by The World Health Organization (WHO) are as of October 25th, 2009
Vaccine News
In Alberta, H1N1 flu vaccine clinics will be restricted to children between six months and five years old and pregnant women. The vaccine will not be available to other at-risk Albertans, including people under 65 with asthma, diabetes or other chronic health conditions, until more doses are available. Vancouver Sun
The Winnipeg Regional Health Authority decided to expand its vaccine priority list to children aged six months to five years, disadvantaged people, single parents or anyone solely responsible for a dependant and pregnant women. CBC
Saskatchewan's H1N1 flu vaccination program will expand to schoolchildren from kindergarten to Grade 6, women at least 20 weeks pregnant and women who have recently given birth. CBC
In a bid to bring order to the H1N1 vaccination process, end long lineups, and dispel fears of a shortage, public health officials in Quebec will start handing out coupons to those eligible to receive the vaccine. The number of coupons handed out each day will correspond to the number of doses of vaccine available that day. The Gazette
Pregnant women in Ottawa will be able to get unadjuvanted H1N1 vaccine at the city's five fixed vaccination-clinic sites from Nov. 5th, but likely not at the smaller number of roving clinics. Officials are also considering a standalone clinic for pregnant women only to get the unadjuvanted vaccine. Ottawa Citizen
A staff member has been fired after an Alberta Health Services probe into why some members of the Calgary Flames and their families received their own flu shot clinic while other Albertans waited for hours in the cold at other sites. According to an Alberta Health Board statement, disciplinary action has been taken, resulting in the dismissal today of the most senior staff member involved. CBC
Bulk shipments of the main component of the H1N1 vaccine made at a Quebec plant are being exported to other countries. GlaxoSmithKline, which has the sole contract to supply Canada's flu vaccine, says it can produce more antigen than it can expeditiously put into vials for Canadians, and has been exporting excess amounts overseas. Canada’s chief public health officer, Dr. David Butler-Jones, reassured Canadians that the country has first access to all vaccine filled and packaged at the Quebec facility. Vaccine is produced in three stages: bulk production and the formulation of the antigen, filling the vials; and quality control and packaging. Globe and Mail
National News
The House of Commons will debate the H1N1 flu pandemic for the second time as the Liberals are putting forward an opposition motion calling for increased resources for responding to the outbreak. The motion states: "The Government of Canada should therefore immediately: (a) allocate the full $400 million set aside for pandemic response in the 2006 budget to support additional medical staff for vaccinations and patient care; (b) increase support for emergency planning to help local health authorities cope with long line-ups and shortages of both vaccines and health care workers; and (c) divert the money now being spent on needless, partisan advertising of government budgetary measures to a new public awareness campaign to keep Canadians informed with essential up-to-date information throughout the pandemic.” The Star
As the government struggles to efficiently distribute vaccine in the midst of an H1N1 flu outbreak, the federal agency responsible for dealing with various emergencies, including pandemics, has been criticized by Auditor General Sheila Fraser. This finding comes as public anger grows over the delayed rollout of the H1N1 vaccine. According to the report, Public Safety Canada has taken the first step by developing the interim Federal Emergency Response Plan, which has not been formally approved by the government. The plan also does not include updated definitions of the roles, responsibilities, and capabilities needed for an integrated, coordinated approach to emergency response. City News
International News
South Korea's health authorities reported three additional deaths related to the A/H1N1 influenza virus, pulling up the nation's death toll to 45. With nearly 10,000 people found to be infected with the virus per day, South Korea decided to raise its alert level against the A/H1N1 influenza from the second-highest to the top level of "red." China View
According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, a cat in Iowa has tested positive for H1N1 flu, the first time a cat has been diagnosed with the new pandemic strain. The 13-year-old cat apparently caught the virus from one of the people living in the house. It has recovered and does not appear to have infected anyone or anything else. Reuters
Germany is experiencing a new wave of the H1N1 flu virus according to the Robert Koch Institute for infectious diseases. Latest figures show the number of new infections recorded rising to about 3,000 a week as compared to about 1,860 previously. So far, six people in Germany have died of H1N1 and 30,000 have been ill with it. Germany recorded its first known death from the pandemic version of the H1N1 virus, on October 8, and has just begun a public vaccination program. Reuters
In New York, middle and high school students can receive free H1N1 vaccinations at weekend clinics throughout the city by November, 7th. Over the next five weekends, the city will open 29 clinics in an effort to make the vaccine available to every school-age New Yorker. Each clinic would be able to accommodate 500 people per hour. Students must bring signed parental consent forms, which are available online or in person at the clinics. New York Times
The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced recently that pigs in a commercial herd in Indiana have tested positive for the H1N1 flu, making it the first time the virus has been found in such hogs. USDA officials have stressed repeatedly that instances of pigs with H1N1 flu do not pose a threat to consumers of pork products. Still, word of a commercial herd contracting the virus for the first time is bad news for the pork industry, which has struggled with poor prices blamed on H1N1 flu fears and the global recession. Associated Press
Weekly Feature
Check out the number of vaccines already distributed and forecasted to be distributed throughout Canada, province by province from the Public Health Agency of Canada.
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