National Advisory Committee on Immunization
| Comité consultatif national de l'immunisation | |
 | |
| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 1964 |
| Jurisdiction | Government of Canada |
| Headquarters | Ottawa, Ontario |
| Minister responsible | |
| Agency executives |
|
| Parent department | Health Canada |
| Parent agency | Public Health Agency of Canada |
| Website | https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/immunization/national-advisory-committee-on-immunization-naci.html |
The National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI; French: Comité consultatif national de l'immunisation; CCNI) is an external advisory body that provides the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) "with independent, ongoing and timely medical, scientific, and public health advice in response to questions from PHAC relating to immunization."[1] It is composed of "experts in the fields of pediatrics, infectious diseases, immunology, pharmacy, nursing, epidemiology, pharmacoeconomics, social science and public health."[2] The Committee "reports to the Vice-President of the Infectious Disease Prevention and Control Branch" of PHAC, and "works with staff of the Centre for Immunization and Respiratory Infectious Diseases" of the PHAC "to provide ongoing and timely medical, scientific and public health advice."[2]
History[edit]
NACI was established in 1964.[2]
During the COVID-19 pandemic[edit]
NACI became prominent during the COVID-19 pandemic, as publisher of recommendations and guidance surrounding distribution of COVID-19 vaccines.[1][3] Some of NACI's recommendations have been criticized as counter-productive in terms of public health and communications concerning the pandemic;[4]
Dose scheduling[edit]
In March 2021, amid supply shortages, NACI issued a strong recommendation that second doses of two-dose COVID-19 vaccines (such as the AstraZeneca, Moderna, and Pfizer vaccines) be given up to four months after the first, as opposed to the three-to-four week intervals used in the clinical trials and recommended by Health Canada. NACI stated that this recommendation was based on modelling from data showing that "the first two months of real world effectiveness are showing sustained high levels of protection."[4]
Pfizer Canada president Cole Pinnow warned against the recommendation in the House of Commons, stating that "the data that we’ve seen from a real world evidence perspective that has been used to make arguments to extend the dose schedule has been done on much younger populations", and that "we don't have any data after two months to know what the impact of one dose will be."[5]
On May 28, citing improved vaccine availability, NACI recommended that second doses be administered "as soon as possible", and especially to individuals who are at high risk, but that it "continues to recommend that jurisdictions should maximize the number of individuals benefiting from the first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine by extending the second dose of COVID-19 vaccine up to four months after the first."[6][7]
mRNA vaccine preference[edit]
On May 4, 2021, NACI issued a recommendation that mRNA-based vaccines should be preferred over viral vector vaccines such as the AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson vaccines, due to the rare risk of post-vaccination embolic and thrombotic events. Vice-chairman Shelly Deeks stated that "individuals need to have an informed choice to be vaccinated with the first vaccine that’s available, or to wait for an mRNA vaccine."[8]
Various politicians and public health authorities argued that such statements concerning officially-approved vaccines would encourage hesitancy, and impede the public health goal of inoculating the public as quickly as possible.[8] On May 6, NACI issued a follow-up statement wishing to clarify that their previous statement was not to imply that anyone taking a vaccine such as AstraZeneca was making a mistake, and that it was adequately effective for protecting against COVID-19.[9]
Leadership[edit]
The NACI is composed of at least 14 members, roughly a dozen lobby group "liaison representatives" and roughly a dozen professional Health Canada civil servant "ex-officio representatives" support staff.[2] among whom are:
- Caroline Quach-Thanh (Chair)[10]
- Shelley Deeks (Vice-Chair)[11][10]
References[edit]
- ^ a b "Recommendations on the use of COVID-19 vaccines". Government of Canada. March 16, 2021.
- ^ a b c d "National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI): Membership and representation". Government of Canada. March 17, 2021.
- ^ Miller, Adam (March 30, 2021). "Why Canada is suspending use of AstraZeneca vaccine in people under 55". CBC News. Retrieved April 7, 2021.
- ^ a b "Second doses of COVID-19 vaccines can be given up to 4 months after first, NACI now says". CTV News. March 3, 2021. Retrieved June 2, 2021.
- ^ Mar 8, Charlie Pinkerton Published on; 2021 4:41pm (March 8, 2021). "Pfizer not consulted by NACI on spacing out doses; warns against 4-month gap". iPolitics. Retrieved June 2, 2021.
- ^ Canada, Public Health Agency of (May 28, 2021). "NACI updated COVID-19 vaccine statement, May 28, 2021: Summary". Canada.ca. NACI. Retrieved June 4, 2021.
- ^ "2nd COVID-19 shots should be offered 'as soon as possible': NACI". Global News. Retrieved June 4, 2021.
- ^ a b Dunham, Jackie (May 4, 2021). "NACI accused of contributing to confusion, hesitancy over 'preferred' vaccines guidance". CTV News. Bell Media. Retrieved May 9, 2021.
- ^ Rabson, Mia (May 6, 2021). "NACI chair says advice not meant to give AstraZeneca recipients vaccine remorse". Canadian Press. Retrieved May 9, 2021.
- ^ a b Gillies, Rob (March 29, 2021). "Canada pauses AstraZeneca vaccine for under 55". Chicago Daily Herald. Associated Press.
- ^ "Dr. Shelley Deeks". CIRN. Retrieved February 4, 2021.
External links[edit]
| General | |
|---|---|
| National libraries | |
