Total number of vials currently held:
*The number of doses in a vial is the maximum expected if administered in the approved manner or in the fashion for which the product was produced. Due to many variables, including product wastage and the availability of vaccine delivery mechanisms, the calculation of vaccine doses can not be accurately stated. For example, if the vaccine is administered with a special bifurcated needle, then a “10 dose vial” could vaccinate between 85 and 100 persons
**Expired vials
***Special Access Programme
All the smallpox vaccine vials were manufactured between 1968 and 1980.
The potency of the vaccine has been tested annually by the manufacturer with satisfactory results.
Health Canada is negotiating to purchase approximately 10 million doses of the smallpox vaccine to ensure the capacity is available to produce more vaccine in the unlikely event that it is needed.
The location of the stockpiles cannot be released for security reasons.
Health Canada and Public Works and Government Services Canada through the advanced contract award notice (ACAN)/request for proposal (RFP), and request for information (RFI) anticipate that approximately 10 million doses will be available by December 2003.