Canada Secures 500,000 Doses of H5N1 Vaccine for High-Risk Groups

The Public Health Agency of Canada has announced the purchase of 500,000 doses of a human vaccine in response to the increasing threat of H5N1 avian influenza. The vaccine is intended to protect those most at risk of exposure to the virus from infected animals.

The agency confirmed that they secured the initial supply of GSK’s Arepanrix H5N1 A/America vaccine through an existing agreement. Although the risk to the general public is currently low, individuals with higher-level exposure to infected animals are advised to take additional precautions.

Canada reported its first domestically acquired human case of H5N1 on November 9, 2024, involving a teenager in British Columbia who required significant respiratory support. The patient has since been discharged, following recovery.

Canadian health officials remain vigilant, noting no evidence of sustained person-to-person transmission of the virus globally. With avian flu also impacting U.S. cattle and leading to reduced milk production, Canadian dairy farmers are on high alert.

The vaccine doses will be distributed with 60% allocated to provinces and territories while the remainder will be stockpiled for national preparedness. Usage will be determined by provincial and territorial authorities, guided by preliminary advice from the National Advisory Committee on Immunization.

The spread of H5 bird flu has implications beyond Canada, with nearly 70 human cases reported in the United States since April. The US has plans to rebuild its stockpile of bird flu vaccines for poultry, and other countries are developing similar vaccines for humans due to the potential global pandemic risk.