Canada is sending five million doses of the H1N1 vaccine to Mexico this week to help that country meet its immediate pandemic needs, Reuters quoted Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq as saying today. Mexico will replenish Canada"s supply by the end of March. By that time, its own orders for the vaccine from several manufacturers are expected to have been delivered. "This is not a donation," the Public Health Agency of Canada said in a release. "Canada already has distributed and has stockpiled enough vaccine in Canada to meet its immediate and ongoing needs, as well as to accommodate Mexico"s request." Canada, which has ordered 50.4 million doses from GlaxoSmithKline for a population of 33.7 million, has immunized about a third of its population. Last month, health officials said the number of deaths and hospitalizations in Canada from the flu were dropping, and provincial governments, which are responsible for immunization, have been closing down flu clinics. At least 12,220 deaths from H1N1 flu had been formally confirmed around the globe as of Dec. 27, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has said. It said that in North America -- the United States, Canada and Mexico -- transmission has been widespread but has declined substantially in all three countries.
