Canada proactively buys 500K doses of avian flu vaccine for humans

The Canadian Public Health Agency says it is proactively purchasing 500,000 doses of human vaccine against avian influenza.

The agency says the vaccines will enhance the country’s capacity to protect people.

There has been no evidence of sustained person-to-person spread of the virus, in any of the globally identified cases.

Canada has seen one  domestically-acquired case back on Nov. 9, 2024.

60 per cent of the vaccine doses will be going to provinces and territories, while 40 per cent will be kept in a federal stockpile.

Mark Holland, the Minister of Health, said in a press release statement on the purchase, “as we confront the ongoing global health risks posed by avian influenza, our priority remains protecting the health of people in Canada.”

“The proactive steps we are taking, including securing vaccine doses, reflect our commitment to being prepared for any potential public health threats,” he said.

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