News - CANOE -- CNEWS - Canada: Feds sign H5N1 flu vaccine deal

TORONTO (CP) - The federal government and Canada's flu vaccine manufacturer have finally signed a deal that will see ID Biomedical produce a prototype H5N1 flu vaccine for clinical testing in this country - a year after company officials first pitched the idea to federal pandemic planners.

Protracted negotiations between the two parties over issues including the thorny question of vaccine liability leaves Canada, which had been one of the first countries to indicate it would make an H5N1 vaccine, now trailing a growing list of nations in this area of research.

Health Minister Ujjal Dosanjh called the contract an important component of the country's pandemic readiness.

CANOE -- CNEWS - Canada: Feds sign H5N1 flu vaccine deal