An editorial in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal) reports that Canada must change its H1N1 vaccine policy to speed up access to the vaccine for high-risk groups such as pregnant women, children and youth and people with chronic diseases.
In the Canadian version of the vaccine, Health Canada has chosen to include an adjuvant. It is a substance that will increase the immunological response to antigens. As a result, this will slow its use but allow more people to be immunized. The use of an adjuvant requires a more careful review compared to a vaccine without an adjuvant.
Dr. Paul Hebert, Editor-in-Chief and Dr. Noni Macdonald, Senior Editor, Public Health at CMAJ recommend providing the vaccine without adjuvant to high-risk groups to facilitate quick vaccination. The US and Europe will follow this similar approach. The rest of the population can comply with the slower method with an adjuvant vaccine.
“Time is running out,” they write. “Only by providing fast-track standard vaccine can high-risk groups be protected in a timely way, while the general public awaits the arrival of the adjuvant vaccine.”
“The H1N1 vaccine race: Can we beat the pandemic?”
Paul C. Hébert MD MHSc, Editor-in-Chief, Noni MacDonald MD MSc, Section Editor, Public Health
CMAJ 2009 DOI:10.1503/cmaj.091560
cmaj
Written by Stephanie Brunner (B.A.)