Expiry Date for Adjuvanted H1N1 Vaccine Revised

The Department of Health Promotion and Protection is asking physicians to return any left over adjuvanted H1N1 vaccine to local public health offices.

The request is being made in response to Health Canada's announcement on April 9 that the expiry date of adjuvanted H1N1 vaccine has been shortened by 12 months.

"The revised expiry date is not related to any safety concerns. It only affects the ability of vaccine to produce a strong immune response," said Dr. Robert Strang, chief public health officer for Nova Scotia. "This only affects the vaccine that has not yet been used and not vaccine already given. People who have already received the vaccine can be assured they have good immunity against H1N1."

The Department of Health Promotion and Protection is communicating with physicians and public health offices across the province about the new expiry date.

In total, Nova Scotia received 674,500 doses of adjuvanted H1N1 vaccine. There are about 88,000 unused adjuvanted H1N1 doses in the province.

H1N1 activity in Nova Scotia remains very low.

Nova Scotians can still be immunized by contacting their family doctor or local public health services office.