Toronto conserving rabies vaccine supply due to provincial shortage

This is an undated photo of a silver-haired bat, the species most often associated with human rabies. (AP Photo/Merlin D. Tuttle, Bat Conservation International).

TORONTO — Toronto Public Health says it is conserving its rabies vaccine supply due to a shortage in Ontario.

The health agency instructed doctors Thursday to start rationing the city’s remaining supply.

That means only high-risk exposures, such as direct contact with bats and wild animals, will be eligible.

Vaccine doses will also be adjusted to only offer the first two of the four rabies shots, and the latter ones will be provided once they get resupplied.

Two rabies vaccines are approved for use in Canada, and both have been experiencing shortages in recent months, according to a Health Canada website that monitors supply.

A shortage of RabAvert, produced by Bavarian Nordic, started in October and is expected to end by Feb. 14. Increased demand for the drug is cited as the reason.

Another brand called Imovax Rabies, from Sanofi Pasteur, faces a shortage due to a “delay in shipping” that started in June and is expected to be resolved this month.

Dr. Howard Shapiro, the public agency’s associate medical officer of health, said the eligibility changes will help extend the city’s stock during a “period of very low supply.”

“TPH is actively engaging its network of health care providers, alerting them of the change and awaits further information from the Ontario Ministry of Health regarding timelines for vaccine resupply,” Shapiro said in a statement emailed Thursday.

Toronto Public Health says the health ministry has not provided a date for when more shipments will arrive.

Rabies is rare in Canada, but humans can get infected if they are bitten by an animal with the virus.

Symptoms — including confusion, breathing problems and seizures — can show up in two to eight weeks.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 16, 2025.

Canadian Press health coverage receives support through a partnership with the Canadian Medical Association. CP is solely responsible for this content.

Hannah Alberga, The Canadian Press