The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) has secured an initial supply of 500,000 doses of GSK’s human vaccine against avian influenza. This vaccine is part of Canada’s contingency planning to protect individuals at increased risk of exposure to the virus from infected animals.

The first domestically acquired human case of H5N1 was reported in Canada on Nov. 9, 2024. Despite this, there has been no evidence of sustained person-to-person transmission of the virus globally.

In a bid to protect those most at risk, PHAC states it will distribute vaccines to provinces and territories using an equitable and risk-based approach. Of the available doses, 60 per cent will be allocated to provinces and territories, while the remaining 40 per cent will be kept in a federal stockpile for national preparedness. Provinces and territories will determine the use and administration of their respective vaccination programs, with PHAC supporting monitoring and evaluation efforts to adjust national initiatives as necessary.

The National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) has released preliminary guidance regarding the use of human vaccines against avian influenza in non-pandemic situations. While broad vaccine deployment is not recommended at this time, the guidance outlines the conditions under which provincial and territorial public health authorities may use the vaccine to protect individuals at higher risk of exposure to the virus.