Health Canada has directed all provinces to pull and destroy existing supplies of the COVID-19 vaccine that targets the XBB form of Omicron, a spokesperson for Ontario’s health minister says.
“Health Canada has directed all provinces to follow practices and processes for the withdrawal and destruction of all remaining supplies of XBB vaccines, starting Sept. 1, 2024,” the spokesperson said.
The Omicron branch of the viral family tree was discovered in late 2021 and started spreading rapidly around the world. The latest strains of Omicron circulating in Canada and the U.S. have names that start with KP.
In a notice to health professionals, the federal government said that after Aug. 21, “there will no longer be XBB.1.5 COVID-19 vaccines available for use in Canada. Updated COVID-19 vaccines to target the JN.1 or KP.2 strains are anticipated to be authorized by Health Canada in the coming weeks.”
Ontario said vaccines will be available once it receives supply from Health Canada after the updated formulation is approved.
“It is estimated Ontario, and other provinces, will receive supply from Health Canada in October,” a spokesperson said.
Doctors and vaccine experts say while the existing XBB shot isn’t perfectly matched to circulating subvariants of Omicron, both it and the anticipated booster is expected to reduce the number of people landing in hospital.
COVID-19 still circulating
Several pharmacists in Ontario told CBC News the XBB vaccine is not available today. The same is reportedly the case in Alberta.
As of Aug. 24, COVID activity was high and decreasing in Quebec, moderate in Ontario, Alberta and New Brunswick, with data not available for B.C., Saskatchewan and Manitoba.
A letter from Ontario’s chief medical officer of health to vaccinators said as part of Health Canada’s authorization of the new formulation for the fall, Health Canada will remove the strain identifier, such as XBB, from the vaccine’s naming convention. Instead, a single drug identification number, or DIN, will be used.