Today, the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Health, and the Honourable Filomena Tassi, Minister of Public Services and Procurement, announced that the Government of Canada has signed a new contract with GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) to support sustained influenza pandemic readiness.
The Government of Canada maintains pandemic influenza vaccine preparedness contracts in the event of an influenza pandemic and has contracted with GSK to supply both pandemic and seasonal influenza vaccines since 2001. Influenza pandemics are unpredictable but recurring events that occur when a novel influenza virus strain emerges, spreads widely, and causes an outbreak. They historically have occurred every 11-40 years, with the most recent one being H1N1 in 2009.
As of July 1, 2022, GSK is reserving capacity to produce and deliver domestic pandemic influenza vaccines for an initial period of four years with the option to extend for up to five additional one-year periods. The contract will include an option to procure up to 80 million doses of influenza vaccine should an influenza pandemic occur. The contract also guarantees the supply of a minimum of 4 million doses of seasonal influenza vaccine annually for use in publicly funded vaccination programs. First deliveries of seasonal influenza vaccine under the contract are scheduled for September and October 2022.
The Government of Canada is committed to protecting the health and safety of everyone in Canada. This contract will help ensure timely access to seasonal influenza and pandemic influenza vaccines if needed. Securing this capacity is an important part of Canada's ongoing pandemic preparedness efforts while the response to the COVID-19 pandemic continues.
