We all want to protect our rabbits from the awful rabbit hemorrhagic disease, or RHD.  But did you know that the only RHD vaccine currently licensed in Canada, the FILAVAC, is produced using liver-derived antigen from infected lab rabbits?  That is, to manufacture vaccine doses, healthy rabbits are infected with RHDV, then destroyed for antigen harvest.

We are grateful for the protection the FILAVAC provides our domestic rabbits, but would also like an option that doesn’t involve this cost to rabbits in the manufacture.  The good news is there are effective versions of the RHD vaccine which do not require this ongoing harm:

[i] The YURVAC vaccine, produced by HIPRA and used in Europe.  It protects against RHDV and RHDV2, and shows effectiveness also against a newer more virulent variant circulating in Europe. 

[ii] The Medgene RHDV2 vaccine made by Medgene, used widely in the United States.

[iii] the Nobivac vaccine, made by MSD in the EU/UK, a combo vaccine which protects against RHDV and RHDV2, and also Myxomatosis.

 

Allowing a second RHD vaccine into the Canadian market is a triple-win:

1. Biosecurity: Diversifying the Canadian vaccine supply chain improves Canadian vaccine supply security.

2. Market health: Multiple product options diversify the Canadian market, benefiting caregivers and motivating innovation.

3. Ethics: Adding a liver-free RHD vaccine aligns with the 3Rs principles of Animal Use (Replace, Reduce, Refine) widely cited in global science. Many Canadian rabbit caregivers want an effective RHD vaccine that better aligns with their ethical commitments.

 

Our request

We encourage the above-named makers to pursue Canadian authorization of their RHD vaccine, and to work with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) on a clear pathway and timeline.

We encourage the CFIA to prioritize and facilitate review of the new vaccine, while maintaining rigorous safety, quality, and efficacy standards. We encourage reliance on existing safety/efficacy data, thus avoidance of any unnecessary duplication of animal studies for Canadian approval or batch release adoption.

We are not asking to remove or replace the current FILAVAC vaccine. We are asking for a second option so rabbit caregivers can choose a best fit.

 

Sign the petition

We, the undersigned, support evidence-based vaccination against RHD and the addition of a second RHD vaccine in Canada. We believe this strengthens biosecurity, diversifies the market, and respects the animals we seek to protect.

We respectfully encourage vaccine makers and the CFIA/CCVB to make an alternate RHD vaccine available to Canadian rabbit caregivers.

Please add your name and province. If applicable, include one of the following tags after your name to help demonstrate broad support:

Veterinarian (Province/License # optional)

Rabbit Rescue / Shelter (Organization & Province)

Wildlife Rehabilitator (Province/Permit # optional)

Pet Guardian (City/Province)

Research/Ethics, Academic, or Industry (Affiliation & Province)

 

FAQ

1. Do these alternate vaccines protect against both RHDV and RHDV2? The YURVAC and Nobivac have demonstrated effectiveness against both strains of the virus. The YURVAC also has demonstrated effectiveness against a more virulent variant circulating in Europe.  The Medgene is focused on the RHDV2.

2. Given the 3-Rs Principle of Animal Use, what about other [non-rabbit] animal-derived ingredients in the alternate vaccines?  [i] The Medgene website claims: "Medgene’s prescription platform system ensures that all the ingredients that go into our vaccines are animal origin free."  [ii] The YURVAC makers, HIPRA, responded to our query as follows: "the yeast culture medium and the adjuvants that YURVAC contains are animal-free. However, we can't say that it's 100% "vegan", because there are 2 excipients in the masters which are derived from animal components".  These animal-derived excipients [typically from cattle, swine, or fish] are likely a one-time input upstream in the manufacturing process, but may be present in the doses in highly diluted form.  [iii] The Nobivac ingredients include gelatine & pancreatic digest of casein, which are typically derived from bovine & porcine sources. The Nobivac may also have animal inputs upstream in the manufacture; clarification from the makers is welcome.  [iv] The FILAVAC has no animal-derived ingredients, apart from the rabbit-derived antigen.  It may have other animal inputs upstream in the manufacture; clarification from the makers is welcome.

3. Was this petition created by vaccine manufacturers to help get their new vaccine into Canada?  No, this call for vaccine options was initiated by a small group of Canadian rabbit caregivers who have been troubled by the cost to rabbits of the older versions of the vaccine.  We, the caregivers, decided that a petition might help demonstrate Canadian demand for a second RHD vaccine, and so encourage makers to undergo the cost & effort of seeking Canadian approval. The authors of this petition have no financial ties to any vaccine maker.  We’re advocating on behalf of rabbit caregivers   -  and rabbits.

4. Can a rabbit currently using FILAVAC, or some other RHD vaccine, safely switch to one of the others?  This decision should be made with your veterinarian. Label guidance and clinical judgment will determine timing and compatibility if a switch is considered.

5. Does this petition call for FILAVAC to be taken off the Canadian market? No. This petition merely asks for an alternate vaccine option for Canadians, so vets and clients can choose.

6. Do the Canadian distributors of FILAVAC, CEVA Animal Health, have plans for an updated (non-liver-derived) vaccine? We're not sure about that; but do wonder about another intriguing possibility: a bait-distributed RHD vaccine for wild / feral rabbits. Delivered via scattered feed, such a vaccine could give wide protection to non-domestic rabbits, and address the RHD problem at its source.  A Portuguese project, FIGHT-TWO, got quite far in this and hope to take it to completion.  And CEVA has experience, through its subsidiary Artemis Technologies, developing bait-delivered meds and working with the CFIA on approval for such programs.  Though beyond the scope of this petition, an RHD vaccine for North America's non-domestic rabbits is an exciting possibility that CEVA seems well-positioned to lead the way on.