Toronto Public Health says it is maintaining its supply of rabies vaccine due to a shortage in Ontario.
The health agency asked doctors Thursday to begin rationing the city’s remaining supplies.
This means that only high-risk exposures, such as direct contact with bats and wildlife, will be eligible.
Vaccine doses will also be adjusted to offer only the first two of four rabies vaccines, and the latter will be administered once restocked.
Two rabies vaccines are approved in Canada, and both have experienced shortages in recent months, according to a Health Canada website that monitors the supply.
A shortage of RabAvert, produced by Bavarian Nordic, began in October and is expected to end by February 14. Increased demand for this drug is cited as the reason.
Another brand called Imovax Rabies, from Sanofi Pasteur, is facing a shortage due to a “shipping delay” that began in June and is expected to be resolved this month.
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Dr. Howard Shapiro, the state agency’s deputy medical officer of health, said the eligibility changes will help expand the city’s stockpile during a “period of very low supply.”
“TPH is actively engaging its network of health care providers, alerting them of the change and awaiting further information from the Ontario Ministry of Health regarding vaccine resupply timelines,” Shapiro said in a mailed statement electronic Thursday.
Toronto Public Health says the Ministry of Health has not provided a date for the arrival of further shipments.
Rabies is rare in Canada, but humans can become infected if they are bitten by an animal carrying the virus.
Symptoms, including confusion, breathing problems, and seizures, may appear within two to eight weeks.
© 2025 The Canadian Press