Canada purchases 500,000 doses of GSK's vaccine for bird flu

Adds background in paragraphs 2 and 6, details and health minister comment in paragraphs 3-5

Feb 19 (Reuters) - The Government of Canada has secured an initial supply of 500,000 doses of GSK's GSK.L bird flu vaccine to protect individuals most at risk of being exposed to the virus through animals infected with avian influenza.

The country reported its first case of bird flu in a person in November.

While the current risk to the public remains low, individuals with higher-level exposure to infected animals should take appropriate precautions, the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) said on Wednesday.

PHAC will provide the vaccines — used as part of Canada's contingency planning — to provinces and territories based on an equitable and risk-based approach, with 60% of available doses going to provinces and territories and 40% kept in a federal stockpile for national preparedness.

"The proactive steps we are taking, including securing vaccine doses, reflect our commitment to being prepared for any potential public health threats," said Minister of Health Mark Holland.

To date, there has been no evidence of sustained person-to-person spread of the virus in any of the cases identified globally.