KLAS-TV Channel 8 News Las VegasCanadian Flu Vaccine Investigation Update

Canadian Flu Vaccine Investigation Update

(Nov. 19) -- State authorities are investigating a valley medical clinic that may have distributed an illegal Canadian flu vaccine. In a flu season where flu shots were supposed to be so scarce, it was surprising for some to see the signs outside of the Nevada Institute for Wellness.

A clinic employee said the vaccines came from a Canadian manufacturer -- one that has not received FDA approval. The Nevada Board of Osteopathic Medicine is investigating if the doctors at the clinic did anything wrong. It will be up to the FDA to determine if the vaccine was illegally imported. But they said their policy forbids them from discussing an active investigation.

In the U.S., the only drugs doctors or clinics are allowed to dispense must be FDA approved. Those without proper licensing are not allowed to purchase vaccines or prescription drugs period.

Louis Ling, with the Nevada Pharmacy Board, said, "The penalties would be normal penalties from a fine to a reprimand all the way up to the physician possibily loosing his license."

It is not clear if any of the doctors at the clinic in question have the license to purchase any international pharmaceutical products. They did not return phone calls.

Brian Labus, with the Clark County Health District, said, "We're still working with county, state, federal officials to get more vaccine." Clark County health officials say it would be unusual -- but not impossible -- for private physicians to still have some of the FDA approved flu vaccine.

Our flu season hasn't started yet. Thee have been no outbreaks throughout the nation and no documented cases in Clark County, where officials track the number of flu-like cases at all of the hospitals.

Brian Labus says, "We know it peaks in January, beginning of February."

It's also too early to tell whether the flu vaccine, that's made of dead flu strains, is compatible with the strain that will inevitably strike people.

There is another vaccine -- Flu Mist -- that uses a live virus. However, specialists say because it is a live strain, Flu Mist is not recommended for the most at-risk patients.