Destroy old COVID shots to get new ones? What’s behind the guidance

Several provinces have suspended COVID-19 vaccination campaigns as Health Canada deals with approvals for a new shot that targets the main variant now in circulation.

Do provinces and territories need to destroy their old COVID-19 vaccines before getting the new fall booster shots?

As Canadians prepare for the rollout of a fall booster campaign, some provinces have said they are being ordered to destroy old supplies of the existing vaccine before they can get new supplies.

With vaccination on hold in most regions as a result, here’s what to know about why Health Canada wants the old vaccines pulled from the market, and how provinces are preparing for the rollout.

The current vaccines being used in Canada target the XBB variant of COVID-19.

But that’s no longer the main circulating variant and, just like with flu shots, the vaccine has been updated to target a newer variant and is currently waiting on approval in Canada.

“Once approved, updated COVID-19 vaccines will replace the current supply,” Health Canada says. “Withdrawing the previous XBB vaccines is part of regulatory and supply management best practices, consistent with the approach to annual influenza vaccines.”

Health Canada says it’s up to individual jurisdictions to decide how to get rid of the current XBB vaccines. It also says current doses can be kept until the updated vaccine is available.

In a statement to Global News on Friday, Health Canada said the Public Health Agency of Canada had collaborated with provinces and territories to develop a vaccine withdrawal plan to ensure a “stable supply” of vaccines to support upcoming fall vaccination campaigns.