Journal: Canada behind on H1N1 vaccine

TORONTO, Sept. 1 (UPI) -- The Canadian Medical Association Journal predicts Canada will be a month behind in vaccinating high-risk citizens against the H1N1 flu this fall.

The journal said because the country is taking an extra step in the production of the vaccine, such high-risk groups as pregnant women, children and Indians won't be getting their shots until mid-November, the Globe and Mail reported.

Meanwhile, Australia, many European countries and the United States are on track to begin inoculations for the disease, initially called swine flu, next month, the journal said.

A Health Canada spokesman disagreed with the journal in an e-mail to the Globe.

"Contrary to the suggestion made in the CMAJ editorial, Canada has a highly flexible regulatory plan on pandemic vaccine approval that can be swiftly adjusted to meet public health needs," the spokesman said.

Pharmaceutical maker GlaxoSmithKline is under government contract to produce 50 million doses of the vaccine at a facility in Quebec.

Since surfacing Mexico earlier this year, the H1N1 virus has killed 72 Canadians, the report said.