Moderna's updated COVID-19 vaccine is coming to Alberta, but Novavax shots are not

With the approval of Moderna's updated COVID-19 vaccine, doctors are hoping the shots will be available soon and Albertans will opt to roll up their sleeves to get one.

Last week, Health Canada announced it had authorized Moderna's new formulation, which targets the recent KP.2 subvariant, and that shipments would arrive within days.

A decision on Pfizer's new formulation is expected in the next few weeks.

"To get better protection and protection also against getting more sick, because it's miserable, it would be advised to get the updated vaccine," said Dr. Lynora Saxinger, an infectious diseases specialist at the University of Alberta.

"A lot of people I speak with are actually surprised to hear that we are seeing severe COVID still. It is still a thing."

No Novavax vaccine

Health Canada also approved the protein-based Novavax vaccine (Nuvaxovid) last week.

It's designed to target JN.1, which is the dominant lineage in Canada at the moment.

But it will not be available to Albertans.

The federal government, which procures the vaccines on behalf of the provinces, said it won't be providing the Novavax shots.

"Canada's current contract with Novavax only provides access to domestically manufactured vaccines, which Novavax has been unable to confirm for the 2024-25 season," a Health Canada spokesperson said in an email.

"Provinces and territories may choose to procure independently from Novavax from supply produced in India for their fall vaccination campaigns."

When asked by CBC News whether it would order its own doses, a spokesperson for the province said the Novavax vaccine would not be available through the publicly funded program and there would be no stock for those who wished to pay out of pocket.

"Due to Novavax's inability to honour their contract with the federal government to provide domestically manufactured vaccines, the Nuvaxovid vaccine will not be included in the fall immunization program," the email said.

"As confirmed by Novavax, Nuvaxovid will not be available on the private market, and there will be no option for Albertans to purchase the vaccine."

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Dr. Noel Gibney calls the situation "unfortunate," given the level of vaccine hesitancy in Alberta.

"Novavax is a traditional protein-based vaccine so that for those individuals, those Albertans, that are more reluctant to get an mRNA, Novavax presents an ideal option for protection," said Gibney, professor emeritus of critical care medicine at the University of  Alberta.

In a statement emailed to CBC News, Novavax said doses of its updated vaccine can be made available based on supply, demand and a government's level of need.

"Novavax is prepared to deliver its updated protein-based 2024-25 COVID-19 vaccine to Canada, in line with federal public health recommendations, should the Canadian government or provinces place an order," the statement said.

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• Health Canada approves Novavax's updated COVID-19 vaccine for fall

Saxinger said uptake for that particular shot has been low in the past, despite calls for its availability.

"I think there could be a rationale for getting at least a small supply for people who have had a contraindication to mRNA vaccination based on their prior experience with it or other medical issues," she said.

Meanwhile, Gibney said it's particularly important for high-risk Albertans to plan on getting vaccinated, including seniors and people with underlying health conditions such as heart and lung problems as well as diabetes and high blood pressure.

"COVID hasn't gone away, and individuals who are older and more susceptible to serious illness are at risk of getting seriously ill still."  

The provincial government wouldn't say when COVID-19 shots will be made available.

Pharmacists have been told to prepare for the vaccination campaign to launch, for the general public, on Oct. 15.