Yellowknife, N.W.T. - The NWT's chief public health officer says newborns that have to go without a tuberculosis vaccine will be watched until some becomes available.

Sanofi Pasteur, the company which produces the BCG vaccine, has pulled it off the market because of problems at one of its facilities in Ontario, meaning those who need it won't have it for the foreseeable future.

Dr. Andre Corriveau said the vaccination program involving BCG was pulled as soon as the message was received.

"All the vials that were left over had to be destroyed and right now what we're doing is keeping a list of all the kids who should've received the vaccine, infants, because it's given at birth."

Once the manufacturer restarts production, Corriveau said it will be a process of trying to make sure everyone is up to date.

"We'll do a catch-up to make sure that all the kids who were supposed to receive it have it offered to them, and then resume our program accordingly."

Nunavut was also affected by the recall, where the rate of tuberculosis is 75 times the national average.

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