As autumn approaches, Canada is gearing up for the potential introduction of a new COVID-19 vaccine. Health officials, however, are yet to approve it, as Health Canada is actively reviewing submissions from Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna to update the current COVID-19 vaccine composition.
Mark Johnson, a spokesperson for Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), stated that these submissions are being given priority by a dedicated scientific team. The authorization process depends on various factors, including submission date, review timelines, officials’ approval, and the manufacturer’s vaccine supply.
Due to the ongoing approval process, the cost of producing and distributing the new vaccine and the quantity of doses Canada will receive have not been confirmed.
This new vaccine aims to target the most recent variants of the COVID-19 virus that have been causing a spike in hospitalizations across the country. Previous vaccines, like the Omicron BA.4/BA.5-adapted bivalent vaccine, offer protection against various COVID-19 variants, but this new version will specifically target the XBB.1.5 Omicron subvariant, including BA.2.86 and EG.5.1 strings.
Dawn Bowdish, Canada Research Chair in Aging and Immunity and professor at McMaster University, explained that the COVID-19 virus has mutated significantly over the last three-and-a-half years of the pandemic, rendering its original form an “ancestral virus.” As a result, there is no longer a need for vaccination against the original strain.
While previous COVID-19 vaccines combined elements of the original virus and Omicron variants, the new vaccine aims to address the latest variants more effectively.
Comparing COVID-19 shots to flu vaccines, Bowdish pointed out that flu season typically lasts six months, and a single vaccination offers protection. In contrast, COVID-19 has seen multiple waves with different variants appearing multiple times a year, necessitating updated vaccines to safeguard against evolving variants.
The availability of the new vaccine hinges on its approval by Health Canada, and the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) recommends administering a dose beginning in the fall for eligible age groups, at least six months after their last COVID-19 vaccine or confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection, whichever is later.
It remains uncertain when the new vaccine will be distributed, as Health Canada continues its review. In the event of approval, the federal government is prepared to launch a national campaign to provide crucial information, including vaccination guidance, with the aim of reducing the overall burden on healthcare systems during the respiratory illness season.
The newly formulated vaccine is also undergoing review by health authorities worldwide, including the United States and Europe, further ensuring its safety and efficacy.
As Canada awaits approval for this new vaccine, it remains committed to adapting its vaccination strategy to effectively combat the evolving COVID-19 virus and its variants.