Discontinuation of Janssen COVID-19 vaccines in Canada
Advisory Alert
June 29, 2023
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To: Local Health System Partners
FOR IMMEDIATE ATTENTION
Please see attached memo, shared with Public Health from the Canadian Ministry of Health, regarding the voluntary recall of Janssen COVID-19 vaccine.
Voluntary recall of Janssen COVID-19 vaccine
Janssen Inc. has submitted a voluntary recall to Health Canada for the JCOVDEN (Janssen) COVID-19 vaccine and requested cancellation of the DIN for the product. According to Janssen, the decision to withdraw this product from use in Canada is NOT the result of any health or safety concerns but rather a business decision. Post-market surveillance of the product will be discontinued after June 30, 2023; therefore, the Ministry of Health Canada recommends an immediate discontinuation of the use of JCOVDEN COVID-19 vaccines and to consider the use of other available COVID-19 vaccines.
For sites that do not have this product on hand, no action is required. Please continue to counsel and provide advice on COVID-19 vaccination for your patients. Please note, as a result of this recall, there will be a non-mRNA COVID-19 vaccine supply gap across Canada after June 30, 2023 until the next shipment of Novavax (date TBD).
All remaining Janssen COVID-19 vaccine doses are being repatriated to the federal warehouse for disposal. If you have this product in your inventory, and are not a pharmacy, please email vaccineinventory@phsd.ca. The ministry will be working closely with public health units to repatriate all doses of Janssen COVID-19 vaccines. If any pharmacies have this product in their inventory, they are being asked to contact covid.logistics@ontario.ca.
COVID-19 vaccination program support
Your participation in and support for the COVID-19 Vaccine Program is crucial as we continue to respond to COVID-19 and its impacts on our communities and on our health system and services. Health care providers are encouraged to visit our COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic Communications in a Box webpage for additional information on how to offer COVID-19 vaccine to your patient population. If you have any questions regarding COVID-19 vaccines, please contact Public Health Sudbury and Districts at 705.522.9200 (toll-free 1.866.522.9200).
Thank you for your continued support protecting and promoting health in our communities.
Sincerely,
Original Signed By
Dr. David Williams, Acting Medical Officer of Health
On behalf of Penny Sutcliffe, MC, MHSc, FRCPC
Medical Officer of Health and Chief Executive Officer
Public Health Sudbury & Districts
NOTE: All Advisory Alerts are found on our website.
This item was last modified on June 30, 2023