The case for older adults having access to evidence-based immunisations is clear. As an advocacy organisation, we emphasise a number of aspects of vaccination, including awareness, affordability and access. CARP celebrates a recent access success which will allow more vaccines produced domestically.
Canada’s lack of domestic vaccine facilities has put it at the mercy of other countries to import shots. That dependency caused delays in its COVID-19 vaccine rollout and cautious over-ordering that led to ~18 million doses being thrown out just last year. In fact, Canada imports ~85% of its vaccines, a steep departure from the 1970s when it made the majority of its shots.
Fortunately, recently, a pharmaceutical company opened Canada’s largest vaccine production facility. The new plant will produce shots for whooping cough, diphtheria, and tetanus, giving an immediate boost to the country’s inadequate vaccine supply chain. The Sanofi plant will share a campus with a future flu vaccine and pandemic preparedness facility, a project the federal and Ontario governments have poured $470 million into. Sanofi’s forthcoming plant will reportedly be able to produce enough vaccines for every Canadian within six months of a new influenza-strain pandemic being declared.
Read more about why getting a flu immunisation is so important, especially for those over 65.
These plants are a start, but for the time being, Canada is still going to rely heavily on vaccine leaders like the U.S. and Europe. CARP continues to advocate that the government improve access to the best available health innovations, including vaccinations, with a balanced approach to competitive pricing. Canada must avoid putting complex regulations in place that create price uncertainty and discourage innovative medicines and vaccines as well as pharmaceutical production from coming to Canada.
How CARP advocates
Awareness – Not everyone realises that As you get older, your immune system weakens and it can be more difficult to fight off infections. You’re more likely to get diseases like the flu, pneumonia, and shingles — and to have complications that can lead to long-term illness, hospitalization, and even death. CARP spreads the word and advocates for public education at all levels of government as well.
Affordability – CARP believes your postal code should not determine your access to the best available, evidence-based immunizations. In other words, we push for governments at both levels to ensure every older Canadian can receive the best available, expert-recommended vaccinations for free. CARP is urging the federal government to keep pace with advancements, and allocate additional funding to the provinces/territories so they can provide all of the latest and best available, expert- recommended adult vaccines to seniors in Canada. Read CARP’s submission to the government here.
You can take part in CARP’s letters to the government about funding vaccines here:
Update Adult Vaccination Programs Campaign
Access – As well as ensuring that Canadians can easily obtain available vaccines in local pharmacies (which is why CARP’s recent success advocating against pharmaceuticals’ preferred pharmacy arrangements was important), from their doctors and/or community centres, CARP also advocates for the issue of access via ensuring federal regulations do not discourage companies from producing and selling sometimes critical innovative medicines and vaccines in Canada.
