Health Canada orders provinces to destroy old COVID-19 vaccines amid wait for new batch – CTV
Sept. 5, 2024
Health Canada has directed provinces to withdraw and destroy remaining supplies of last year’s COVID-19 vaccines while it works to authorize updated shots, which is expected to happen in October, according to Ontario’s health ministry.
“Vaccines will be available once Ontario receives supply from Health Canada following their regulatory authorization of the new, updated vaccine formulation,” read a statement from Ontario spokesperson Hannah Jensen.
A notice posted on the federal government’s immunization guide says vaccines aimed at Omicron variant XBB.1.5 is no longer available in Canada. Updated shots, made to target the now-dominant JN.1 or KP.2 strains are expected to get the green light “in the coming weeks.”
Meanwhile, COVID-19 is spreading quickly and widely across Canada, wastewater sampling and test positivity rates suggest.
Alberta’s health ministry has confirmed old-strain COVID-19 vaccines are no longer available. Quebec’s public health director told CTV News current stockpiles are to be returned to Ottawa. Saskatchewan has disposed of their Moderna Spikevax XBB.1.5 and Pfizer Comirnaty XBB.1.5 vaccines in anticipation of new doses.
