Canada has bought 500,000 doses of bird flu vaccine

FILE: Chickens are pictured in Vancouver, B.C., Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ethan Cairns

Canada’s public health agency has bought 500,000 doses of avian flu vaccines in what it called a “proactive” measure to protect those who might be at increased risk of exposure to infected animals.

“To date, there has been no evidence of sustained person-to-person spread of the virus in any of the cases identified globally. However, avian influenza has the potential to cause serious illness in people,” the agency said in a statement Wednesday.

The vaccines were supplied by GSK, an international pharmaceutical company. Most doses – about 60 per cent – will be distributed among the provinces and territories. The remaining 40 per cent will be kept in a federal stockpile.

It will be up to the provinces and territories to decide how best to administer the shots. Federal public health officials will help monitor cases and adjust national strategies as needed.

“Broad vaccine deployment is not recommended at this time,” reads a release from the public health agency.

Canada reported its first domestically acquired human case of avian influenza A (H5N1) on Nov. 9, 2024. “Continued vigilance will help prevent additional human cases,” wrote the agency.

The Canadian government says there are about 35 premises where avian flu has been detected among bird flocks. Most of them are in British Columbia.

The shot is called ArepanrixTM H5N1 A/American wigeon clade 2.3.4.4b.