EDMONTON - Alberta has suspended a provincewide campaign to vaccinate young people against the mumps after five people suffered serious allergic reactions for reasons that are still unknown.

Dr. Karen Grimsrud, acting chief medical officer of health, said Tuesday about 62,800 people between the ages of 17 and 26 have been vaccinated across the province since the program began in November.

Only two to five serious reactions are expected in one million vaccinations, said Grimsrud.

"Obviously, our level of concern was great, and this is above what we would expect to be a normal rate of anaphylaxis in MMR (measles-mumps-rubella)," she said after the decision to suspend the program was made in conjunction with Health Canada.

Anaphylaxis is a serious reaction that can cause wheezing, swelling of the throat and collapse. All five people, who all had a history of allergic reactions, were treated immediately and have fully recovered.

Grimsrud stressed that most of these reactions would happen immediately and at most 24 hours after the vaccine, so the tens of thousands of people who have recently been vaccinated are safe.

Millions of doses of the vaccine have been administered in Canada since 1988, and there have been only 21 reports of anaphylaxis following immunization.

Alberta officials have been in contact with federal health officials since the first three cases were reported Nov. 26. When the fifth case came to light Monday, they decided to act.

All five cases came from one lot of vaccine, but two other lots were also produced from the same bulk products. Alberta had purchased about 200,000 of the 250,000 doses from the three lots made by MerckFrosst Canada, and it was decided to suspend the use of all of those vaccines, severely limiting the supply in the province.

They've warned other provinces that may have bought the other 50,000 not to use those lots.

"Health Canada will be conducting an investigation into the root cause of this particular serious allergic reaction to MMR vaccine, it's highly unusual," she said. "It will be important to know what the source or the reason is behind those reactions."

The mass vaccination program for students and staff in post-secondary institutions started in November after a flurry of cases were reported in Lethbridge and Calgary.

Grimsrud said it's hoped enough people have been vaccinated to date to stop the spread of the virus. There have been 157 cases of the mumps in the province since September.

Grimsrud said it is interesting to note that none of the young children who received the vaccine from the same affected lot have had a reaction.

"It is unusual because it's in young adults, and is there something unique about that age group that would lead us to some information as to what the root cause is," she said. "Until we know why we're having problems, we won't be able to purchase large quantities of vaccine."

The province is still conducting vaccinations for one-year-old children from unaffected lots, said Grimsrud. But all vaccinations for young adults and children in kindergarten have been suspended in order to conserve the doses.

Other provinces have also been contacted to ask for extra doses to tide the province over until health officials can find a new supplier, said Grimsrud.

"Regional health authorities are going to vary in their ability to continue their one-year-old program, because they vary in supply of the vaccine," she said.

Some health regions may have to suspend even the vaccinations in young children for a day or two, or even a week, until temporary vaccines can be found, she said.

The province still hopes to re-launch vaccinations for young adults in the new year, but will only be able to do that when a safe supply has been found.

Provided by The One Click
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