Immediate Action Is Needed As Cases Rise
COVID-19 levels are rising amidst a late-summer wave—and without immediate action, they will continue to climb as children return to school. Crowded classrooms and poor ventilation set the stage for another avoidable surge.
What must be done right now:
• Improve indoor air quality. Schools, workplaces, and public spaces need ventilation and filtration upgrades to reduce airborne spread.
• Normalize and promote respirator masks. Fit-tested N95, KN95, or FFP3 masks provide critical personal protection. Public health leadership should be encouraging—not discouraging—their use.
A recent milestone: The Canadian Standards Association (CSA) has completed public review of Z94.4 – Selection, Use, and Care of Respirators. For the first time, the CSA affirmed that surgical masks alone are inadequate against airborne pathogens, and that respirators should be the baseline for both healthcare workers and patients. This is a pivotal shift that positions Canada to set a global precedent—but only if the standard is fully adopted and enforced.
• Restore access to Novavax (Nuvaxovid). Nuvaxovid, marketed internationally as Novavax, is the only protein-based COVID-19 vaccine approved in Canada—yet it remains inaccessible. That’s a critical gap, leaving those who cannot or will not take mRNA vaccines without any option.
New Evidence Supporting Novavax
A recent Vaccine study confirmed that Novavax’s XBB.1.5–adapted version elicits strong neutralizing antibody responses against current Omicron variants—on par with mRNA vaccines.
Key advantages:
• Longer-lasting protection: Antibody levels remain stable longer than those from mRNA boosters, meaning fewer doses needed over time.
• Fewer side effects: Lower rates of systemic reactions such as fever, fatigue, and muscle aches make Novavax a more tolerable option for many individuals.
Full study:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264410X2500859X
Novavax is not simply a substitute—it’s an essential tool that expands protection, improves tolerability, and sustains immunity across diverse populations.
Future Solutions On The Horizon
While the above steps are urgent, two new scientific developments give hope for the future:
• ANKTIVA (ImmunityBio): Entering Phase 2 trials as a treatment for Long COVID, ANKTIVA aims to restore immune function and help clear lingering viral proteins.
Full press release: https://ir.immunitybio.com/news-releases/news-release-details/immunitybio-announces-phase-2-study-anktivar-patients-long-covid
• VYD2311 (Invivyd): The FDA has placed VYD2311 on a fast-tracked approval pathway, allowing a single streamlined Phase 2/3 trial to support a full Biologics License Application. This long-acting monoclonal antibody could offer months of protection for immunocompromised people and others needing alternatives to vaccines.
Full press release: https://investors.invivyd.com/news-releases/news-release-details/invivyd-aligns-us-fda-rapid-pathway-full-approval-bla-vaccine
Canada must not fall behind. If the U.S. can fast-track VYD2311, then Canada must align its regulatory process now—so that Canadians, especially the most vulnerable, gain timely access once results are available. Delay would mean continuing to leave immunocompromised people exposed while other countries move ahead.
The Bottom Line
The science is clear: clean indoor air, well-fitted respirator masks, access to multiple vaccine platforms, and monoclonal antibodies with broad variant coverage—such as Pemgarda and VYD2311—work, and must be strengthened now. As COVID-19 surges and schools reopen, we must act decisively.
Novavax stands out today as safer, longer-lasting, and urgently needed. Canadians deserve access now. At the same time, Canada must be ready to rapidly deploy future innovations like ANKTIVA and especially VYD2311—fast-tracked by the FDA, and needing the same urgency here.
Call to Action
Your voice matters—please contact these Canadian health leaders and urge them to act:
• The Honourable Marjorie Michel – Minister of Health
• Dr. Howard Njoo – Interim Chief Public Health Officer of Canada
• Nancy Hamzawi – President, Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC)
• Your Provincial Health Minister and local public health unit
Call, email, or write today. Tell them: Canadians deserve immediate access to clean air, respirator masks, and Nuvaxovid—and rapid adoption of future tools like ANKTIVA and VYD2311.
Together, we can ensure that science translates into real protection, not more delay.
Every day of delay leaves immunocompromised Canadians exposed, families vulnerable, and our healthcare system under strain. We cannot afford inaction. The time to act is now.
In solidarity,
Rowan