NACI outlines guidelines for Medigaco’s Canada-made COVID vaccine. Here’s what’s new

NACI said the Medicago Covifenz COVID-19 vaccine is an option for people who have been unable, due to an existing health condition, or unwilling to receive an mRNA vaccine.

Canadians who have been unable or unwilling to receive an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine now have the option to take the Medicago Covifenz vaccine after it was first approved for use in February, the country’s vaccine advisory council says.

Following the authorization, the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) issued a guidance Friday to provinces and territories on the use of the Medicago Covifenz vaccine, the first COVID-19 vaccine to be developed by a Canada-based company.

Medicago is the first plant-based virus-like particle vaccine in the country.

“While mRNA vaccines are strongly recommended, Medicago is another option that provinces and territories may offer to people 18-64 years of age,” NACI said in a tweet.

NACI said it continues to recommend the use of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines for most people due to the very good protection they provide, and that they should be offered to individuals without contraindications to the vaccine.

According to Health Canada, a contraindication is a situation in which a drug, such as a vaccine, should not be used because the risk outweighs any potential therapeutic benefit.

However, for people who do have contraindications to the mRNA vaccines, NACI suggests the Medicago Covifenz COVID-19 vaccine would be a good option.

Lastly, NACI recommends that a viral vector COVID-19 vaccine, such as AstraZeneca and Janssen, may be offered to individuals in the authorized age group without contraindications to the vaccine only when all other authorized COVID-19 vaccines are contraindicated.