Toronto conserving rabies vaccine supply due to provincial shortage
Written by The Canadian Press on January 16, 2025
Toronto Public Health says it is conserving its rabies vaccine supply due to a shortage in Ontario.
The health agency instructed doctors Thursday to start rationing the city’s remaining supply.
That means only high-risk exposures, such as direct contact with bats and wild animals, will be eligible.
Vaccine doses will also be adjusted to only offer the first two of the four rabies shots, and the latter ones will be provided once they get resupplied.
Two rabies vaccines are approved for use in Canada, and both have been experiencing shortages in recent months, according to a Health Canada website that monitors supply.
A shortage of RabAvert, produced by Bavarian Nordic, started in October and is expected to end by Feb. 14. Increased demand for the drug is cited as the reason.
Another brand, from Sanofi Pasteur, is called Imovax Rabies — a shortage due to a “delay in shipping” that started in June is expected to be resolved this month.
Toronto Public Health says that the provincial ministry of health has not provided a date for when more shipments will arrive.
Rabies is rare in Canada, but humans can get infected if they are bitten by an animal with the virus.
Symptoms, including confusion, breathing problems and seizures, can show up in two to eight weeks.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 16, 2025.
Canadian Press health coverage receives support through a partnership with the Canadian Medical Association. CP is solely responsible for this content.
Hannah Alberga, The Canadian Press