Alberta mulls roll out of H5N1 avian flu vaccine while Ottawa stockpiles doses for provinces
CBC
Alberta is reviewing new guidance on H5N1 avian influenza vaccines, and who could be prioritized for getting them, as shipments are readied to fan out across the country and concerns about the virus grow.
The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) announced Wednesday it has authorized a human vaccine and purchased 500,000 doses.
The federal agency plans to share 60 per cent of those doses with the provinces, while the remainder will be stockpiled for what it calls "national preparedness."
According to PHAC, the number of human cases in North America is increasing, primarily among poultry and dairy farm workers, and the vaccines will be used to protect people who may be at increased risk of being exposed through infected animals.
"Doses will be available for distribution directly from the manufacturer to provinces and territories in the coming weeks based on their respective plans and local risk considerations," a PHAC spokesperson said in an email to CBC News.
"Provinces and territories will be responsible for determining whether and when to offer avian influenza vaccinations and managing their vaccination campaigns, including administering the vaccine to eligible recipients."
The National Advisory Committee on Immunization also issued preliminary guidance for provinces.
Its recommendations include when vaccines could be offered and which groups could be prioritized, including lab workers (who handle live H5N1 virus) and people with ongoing contact with infected animals and their environments (including those who live and work on poultry and dairy farms with known infections).
The document provides a framework — including a number of scenarios — for provinces to consider.
It does not recommend widespread vaccination.
Alberta Health said it's aware of the new guidance. Its immunization team, along with the chief medical officer of health, will review it in detail and assess its implications for Albertans.
It did not respond to questions from CBC News about how many doses could be allocated to the province or when shipments would arrive.
"The hope is, looking at the NACI guidelines, that we really take those to heart," said Craig Jenne, a professor in the department of microbiology, immunology and infectious diseases at the University of Calgary.
He believes the guidelines are an appropriate strategy and reflect the level of risk in the community.
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Alberta is reviewing new guidance on H5N1 avian influenza vaccines, and who could be prioritized for getting them, as shipments are readied to fan out across the country and concerns about the virus grow.
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