Letter: Canada reliable for flu vaccine

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Friday, Oct. 22, 2004 | 7:15 a.m.

WEEKEND EDITION

October 23 - 24, 2004

I was somewhat shocked to read last week that the Food and Drug Administration announced that the United States could be importing from Canada more than 1 million doses of flu vaccine. This would be to offset the shortages created when the British government earlier this month suspended the license of an American vaccine plant in Liverpool. An inspection of the plant had revealed vaccine contaminated with bacteria. This left the United States with only about half the supply it needs.

It sounds logical, at first, for the FDA to turn to Canada for help with the shortage.

But isn't the FDA part of the same federal government that is fighting hard to ban importation of prescription drugs from Canada -- in the name of fear for the safety of consumers?

JEFFREY MOSKOW