Canada sends 5 million doses of H1N1 vaccine to WHO

Canada is donating five million doses of H1N1 vaccine to the World Health Organization for use in developing countries.

The federal government will also donate $6 million to WHO's pandemic relief efforts, Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq announced Thursday.

"We are fortunate to be in a position to contribute H1N1 flu vaccine to the WHO to help developing countries now that we have met Canadas immediate needs," Aglukkaq said in a release.

Several signs point to the end of the second wave of Canada's H1N1 outbreak, the Public Health Agency of Canada said, including:

• Adecrease in reported rates of H1N1 infection, hospitalization and deaths.
• Fewer outbreaks reported in schools and hospitals.
• Fewer people visitingdoctors with flu symptoms.

The five million vaccine doses amount to 10per centof Canadas total vaccine order a donation that isin line with that of other developed countries, the federal government said.

Earlier this month, Canada shipped five million doses of H1N1 vaccine to help Mexico bridge its vaccine needs. Mexico is expected to replace the doses by the end of March.

Canada bought 50.4 million doses of vaccine in August, when it seemed people would need two doses of vaccine. Studies now suggest that only young children need two doses.

Demand for H1N1 vaccine has dropped in Canada and internationally. Several European countries such as the Netherlands, Spain, France and Germany havepublicly acknowledged they are looking to either sell excess vaccine or scale back their orders.