After the recent temporary suspension of Novartis flu vaccine products (Agriflu and Fluad), Interior Health is advising the public that its public flu shot clinics will continue as scheduled using its primary vaccine product Vaxigrip.
Novartis products comprise less than 10 per cent of its vaccine supply, and Interior Health has been using another, unaffected vaccine product for the majority of it’s 2012 influenza vaccination campaign.
On Oct. 26, Health Canada issued a voluntary suspension of the use of Novartis influenza vaccines as a precautionary measure due to the presence of small particles found in the vaccines in Europe. British Columbia then temporarily suspended the use of these vaccine products.
The public is assured that all manufacturing lots of the Novartis vaccines received in B.C. had passed Health Canada’s inspection systems with no concerns, and there have been no reports in Canada or internationally of any increased side effects or health problems from the Novartis vaccines.
More information on the influenza vaccine is available at www.interiorhealth.ca/FluClinics.