Health Canada gives green light to Alberta mumps vaccine

Health Canada has cleared several lots of mumps vaccine that came into question when six young people in Alberta had severe allergic reactions last fall.

The reactions, usually very rare, caused the province to suspend its vaccination program for young people between the ages of 17 and 26.

Health Canada's review found no connection between the allergic reactions and three related lots of mumps, measles and rubella vaccine produced by Merck Frosst.

Alberta had purchased about 200,000 of the 250,000 doses from the three lots.

The decision not to use the vaccine until it was investigated severely limited supply at a time when Alberta was battling a mumps outbreak at post-secondary schools.

Health Canada says it will continue to monitor use of the vaccine, but provinces and territories are now free to use it for both adults and children.