Covid Vaccine: When is Canada launching new Covid vaccines targeting KP.2 variant? All you want to know |

Close on the heels of US approving vaccines to fight KP.2 variant of Omicron, Health Canada has said they are reviewing updated vaccines that target the strain currently in circulation. The health regulator has said the review process will be completed by early autumn, post which the vaccines will be launched.
“Health Canada is reviewing submissions from Pfizer and Moderna for COVID-19 vaccines that target the KP.2 strain,” a spokesperson said on Tuesday.
“We are also reviewing a submission from Novavax for a COVID-19 vaccine targeting the [earlier] JN.1 strain.”

US and Canada summer wave: Covid vaccines update

The summer wave of Covid, dominated by FLirT variantshas affected at least 84 countries including Americas and parts of Asia and Europe. The vaccines made by Pfizer (PFE.N), and Moderna (MRNA.O) have been approved in the US for 6 months and above population to fight the latest variants.
Updated vaccines are the need of the time as immunity from previous infection or shots might be waning and the current vaccines may not effectively help tackle the subvariants in circulation. The KP.3 variant is dominating in Canada, which accounts for the majority of the Covid-19 cases in the country.
“Health Canada will authorize the vaccines if, following a thorough and independent scientific review of the evidence, we determine that the vaccines meet safety, quality, and efficacy standards,” Health Canada spokesperson Nicholas Janveau told Global News via email.

Who should get updated vaccines?

While the Covid cases driven by FLirT variants show mild symptoms, elderly, or other vulnerable groups that are at risk of hospitalisation need to get the latest vaccines for building immunity against the latest variants.
“While the COVID virus continues to mutate and change faster than the flu virus, our underlying immunity from prior vaccines and prior infections provides some protection. But we know that protection decreases over time, and certain groups continue to be at higher risk from COVID and other viruses, and we need to continue to protect ourselves and our loved ones,” said Mandy Cohen, director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Ontario health officials say the current vaccines available in Canada target XBB.1, an earlier subvariant of Omicron.
Federal officials say Canada has sufficient supply of COVID-19 vaccines to meet provincial and territorial requirements for fall and winter 2024 vaccination campaigns.
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