Provincial Supply of Zostavax® II Vaccine

Advisory Alert

March 7, 2019

* Cette information est seulement disponible en anglais.

To community health care providers:

The purpose of this Advisory Alert is to provide you with an update regarding the provincial supply of Zostavax® II vaccine for Ontario’s publicly funded shingles vaccination program.

Due to higher demand, the provincial supply of Zostavax® II vaccine at the Ontario Government Pharmaceutical and Medical Supply Service (OGPMSS) is expected to be depleted before it can be replenished by the manufacturer. The anticipated timeframe for replenishment is June 2019.

As such, the ministry has implemented a supply management strategy which includes an allocation plan for Zostavax® II for all public health units. It is recommended that until the provincial supply is replenished, that priority for Zostavax® II vaccine be given to unimmunized individuals who are in their 70th year and will be turning 71 in the near future and thus aging out of eligibility for the provincial publicly funded shingles vaccine program.

Please continue to order Zostavax® II vaccine, through your normal ordering processes, for priority individuals, as outlined above, who require vaccination while still eligible for the publicly funded program. Orders for this vaccine will be allocated based on available supply.

Please also be aware that Shingrix® (Recombinant Non-live Zoster Vaccine) is also available for vaccination of individuals ≥ 50 years of age, without contraindications. It is administered as a two dose schedule, 2-6 months apart. This vaccine is not currently publicly funded.

We will continue to provide you with updates regarding the availability of Zostavax® II as we receive them.

For all reporting, inquiries or comments, please contact Public Health Sudbury & Districts at 705.522.9200, ext. 301.

Sincerely,
P. Sutcliffe, MD, MHSc, FRCPC Medical Officer of Health

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This item was last modified on March 7, 2019