Health Canada gets replacement TB vaccine

Health Canada has found a replacement for the BCG tuberculosis vaccine, which isoffered to all newborns in Nunavut.

The vaccinehelps protect from against serious formsof the disease, likeTB meningitis.

The territory has been without the vaccine since June when the Canadian manufacturer of the drug recalled all of its existing inventory.

Now, new vials will be coming from a company in Tokyo.

"The Government of Nunavut has been working closely with our partners in the provinces and territories to get some of this vaccine in to the country. We have some on order and we expect to get it probably early October, we don't have a firm date yet," said Dr. Maureen Baikie, the Deputy Chief Medical Officer of Health for Nunavut.

The problems with the Canadian BCG manufacturer started after a fire sprinkler went off unexpectedly at its Toronto plant.

A company spokesperson said Monday that production will resume in December 2013.

Baikie said there have been no cases of TB in infants who would have received the vaccinein Nunavut since the supply ran out.

Now health officials havedecided to review the use of BCG in the territory.