Canada can't afford to answer Afghan plea for H1N1 shot
November 10, 2009
THE CANADIAN PRESS
KANDAHAR, AFGHANISTAN–Canada is unlikely to dip into its limited supply of H1N1 vaccine to help meet Afghanistan's plea for help with a pandemic that has already claimed 11 lives in the country.
Civilian and military officials have indicated Canada's stockpiles of the vaccine are too low to make doses available to Afghan civilians.
There have been 779 confirmed cases of swine flu in Afghanistan since July, when the virus is believed to have spread from four U.S. soldiers at Bagram Air Base. Of those, 320 were identified among foreign troops.
"So far we don't have any preventive vaccines," said Dr. Ahmad Farid Raaid, a spokesperson for Afghanistan's health ministry.
Kabul expects 550,000 doses of H1N1 vaccine from World Health Organization donors by next week.
"If the situation deteriorates, we may need more medicine," he said.
Afghanistan has sent a request for support to Canada's embassy.
"We will try to help them ... but it may be difficult to respond to the request for vaccine given the shortages in Canada," Ambassador Bill Crosbie said.
Toronto Star
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