Talks underway for next pandemic flu vaccine contract

[Guest guest]

Talks underway for next pandemic flu vaccine contract

Date: Tuesday Mar. 16, 2010 5:46 PM ET

TORONTO — The federal government has told the vaccine industry it wants to

explore options for Canada's next pandemic flu vaccine contract.

In a request for information issued this week, the government says its new

strategy will look at whether it is feasible and worthwhile to have a

back-up supplier of vaccine.

But the government says the strategy will be based on having a domestically

located manufacturer that can provide 100 per cent of Canada's pandemic flu

vaccine needs.

The only company currently in a position to meet those criteria is

GlaxoKline, which owns the only flu vaccine manufacturing plant in

Canada.

The federal government has invited vaccine manufacturers interested in

Canada's flu vaccine business to a meeting in Ottawa at the end of the month

to discuss the options.

The current 10-year pandemic vaccine contract expires at the end of March

2011.

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20100316/pandemic_canada_100\

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