25 Jun 2014

Cook Islands flu vaccine solution imminent

3:58 pm on 25 June 2014

A New Zealand vaccine supplier says a solution is imminent for freighting influenza vaccine supplies to the Cook Islands.

The Cook Islands Trading Company pharmacy says more than 600 people have been waiting on their flu vaccines since May.

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Photo: AFP

Its pharmacy manager, Shannon Saunders, says they were told by the manufacturer, GlaxoSmithKline, the product couldn't be shipped because of worries about the cooling procedure.

However, another company, BioCSL, says it's been working with the pharmacy and a solution is almost there.

The country manager for BioCSL, Mike Taylor, says they have a plane earmarked for Friday to freight the vaccines, and are just awaiting confirmation of payment.

He says their vaccine, fluvax, cannot be used for children under five.