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As the World Health Organization warns of a “worrying comeback” COVID-19 vaccines may be coming to Canada this fall amid a summer surge in infections.
Health Canada told Global News it is reviewing submissions from Pfizer, Moderna and Novavax for their updated COVID-19 vaccines against the most recent circulating strains and will approve them if they are deemed safe and effective.
“Health Canada will authorize the vaccines if, after a thorough and independent scientific review of the evidence, we determine that the vaccines meet standards for safety, quality and efficacy,” Nicholas Janveau, a spokesman for the agency, said in an email Tuesday.
Beginning in the fall of 2024, the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) strongly recommends the most recently updated COVID-19 vaccines for previously vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals at increased risk for SARS-CoV-2 infection or severe COVID-19 disease.
This includes people aged 65 and over, nursing home residents, pregnant people, people with underlying medical conditions and people from indigenous communities.
“Receiving the most recently updated COVID-19 vaccine is expected to provide a better immune response against circulating COVID-19 strains compared to previous vaccines and is especially important for people at increased risk of COVID-19 infection or severe COVID-19 disease,” Janveau said.
The most recent Canadian wastewater datashowed a “moderate” level of COVID-19 viral activity in the country on Tuesday, but that could change in the coming months as schools reopen and the weather cools, experts say.
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“I think, based on what we’ve seen, we expect there to be a significant amount of COVID cases in the fall and winter,” Allison McGeer, an infectious disease physician at Sinai Health in Toronto, said in an interview with Global News.
McGeer said that since “COVID is still a concern in Canada,” people should get vaccinated.
“There is clearly still a benefit to getting vaccinated as they are available in Canada to protect you in the winter,” she said.
New vaccines for new variants
Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the virus has been constantly changing and mutating into different variants, and vaccine makers are therefore busy updating their vaccines.
The KP.3 variant currently dominates in Canada, accounting for the majority of COVID-19 cases in the country.
KP.3 is the genetic cousin of KP.1 and KP.2, which are playfully called the ‘FLiRT’ variants.
These come from JN.1, the Omicron subvariant that fueled the winter peak.
The updated mRNA vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna, which have been filed for approval by Health Canada, both target the KP.2 variant.
The pharmaceutical companies told Global News that this variant was selected and prioritized in consultation with the Public Health Agency of Canada.
“The introduction of a FP.2-adapted vaccine is expected to provide enhanced immunity and help protect against the strains expected to be circulating in the fall,” said Sophie Morin, spokesperson for Pfizer Canada.
Moderna said the choice of KP.2 for its updated vaccines is in line with the FDA’s recommendation, “and provides a unified approach across North America to best address the dominant strains in this region.”
“As COVID-19 continues to mutate, these updates help ensure vaccines provide the best possible effectiveness during peak respiratory disease season,” Shehzad Iqbal, chief medical officer of Moderna Canada, told Global News.
Novavax’s protein-based vaccine has also been approved by Health Canada.
That vaccine targets the JN.1 variant, but is active against KP.2 and KP.3, among other JN.1 sublineage strains, said John C. Jacobs, president and CEO of Novavax. said in a statement in July.
McGeer said the predominant KP.3 variant circulating in North America is “fairly well covered by these new vaccines.”
“You get some coverage from the old vaccine … but there is no question that the new vaccines are better suited to it,” she said.
McGeer said it is likely that Health Canada will approve the updated vaccines “within the next few weeks.”
She said waiting for the new vaccinations is a good idea for most people, but others who are at higher risk or are traveling may want to talk to their doctor about vaccination sooner.
Pending approval, Canada has secured a “sufficient supply” of COVID-19 vaccines to meet provincial and territorial requirements for the fall and winter, Janveau said.
— with files from Katie Dangerfield of Global News.
© 2024 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
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