Canada mulls delaying or canceling seasonal flu vaccination

OTTAWA, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- Canadian public health officials are holding discussions on how to carry out seasonal flu vaccinations as they expect a A/H1N1 flu pandemic, with some suggesting regular flu vaccination be delayed or even canceled.

Up till now the plan has been for provinces and territories to run their seasonal flu shot programs first, starting essentially any time now. They would be followed up with pandemic vaccination efforts after the A/H1N1 flu vaccine is licensed for use in early-to-mid November, local media reports said Wednesday.

But a lot of experts are questioning the necessity of the regular flu vaccine, pointing out that the major threat is now theA/H1N1 flu.

Some provinces like Quebec are putting on hold their regular flu vaccination plans. Quebec officials said the seasonal vaccine could be delayed until after the A/H1N1 vaccination effort has been completed. Or a more limited seasonal shot campaign might be undertaken, one that would target people like seniors who would beat highest risk if seasonal flu viruses do circulate.

Or the province may cancel these shots altogether.

However, some experts believe it is premature to decide to junk the seasonal campaign, though the idea of a delayed and more targeted delivery of seasonal flu shots makes sense to some experts.

While the H1N1 flu pandemic is unfolding, other viruses will be squeezed out. But the concern is that there is still a lot of cold winter left for the other seasonal agents to return. Distribution of seasonal vaccines may become necessary in January, according to Dr. David Scheifele, director of the vaccine evaluation center at B.C. Children's Hospital in Vancouver.