Updated October 24, 2025
- Program information
- Product specific vaccine information
- Appointment booking
- Ordering vaccine
- PharmaNet entry
- Wastage
- Health care provider resources
- Public-facing resources
Program information
The publicly funded H5N1 influenza vaccine program begins July 2025 and is part of B.C.’s pandemic preparedness efforts. This targeted vaccination campaign aims to protect individuals at increased risk of exposure to avian influenza (H5N1). Due to limited supply, only a small number of doses are available in B.C. Participating pharmacies will receive their vaccine doses directly from their local public health unit and are to follow the applicable regional immunization program protocol.
Eligible clients will be contacted directly by public health and provided with instructions on how and where to receive the H5N1 vaccine. Note the vaccine is not being offered to the general public more widely as the risk of infection from avian influenza is extremely low, and vaccination is not required.
For details refer to: Avian Influenza A (H5N1) Immunization Program Q&A for Immunization Providers – July 2025
Product specific vaccine information
Eligibility criteria:
The H5N1 vaccine is not currently recommended for the general public. Eligible clients will be contacted directly by public health and provided with instructions on how and where to receive the H5N1 vaccine. Only a small number of H5N1 vaccine doses have been made available in B.C. at this time. It is being offered to specific groups who are at higher risk of exposure due to their work or location.
For the eligibility criteria, refer to BCCDC Part 4 – Biological Products Avian Influenza Vaccine (Arepanrix™ H5N1).
Dosage:
- 6 months to 17 years of age: 2 doses given as 0.25 mL IM at least 3 weeks apart.*
- 18 years of age and older: 2 doses given as 0.5 mL IM, at least 3 weeks apart.*
*Based on expert opinion, an 8-week interval between doses may provide better protection.
There should be an interval of at least 6 weeks between the administration of Arepanrix™ H5N1 and any other vaccine to prevent erroneous attribution of an adverse event following immunization. If Arepanrix™ H5N1 is administered at the same time or within 6 weeks of another vaccine, neither dose needs to be repeated.
Vaccine preparation and administration:
- Vaccine must be reconstituted prior to administration.
- After mixing, each reconstituted vial provides 10 doses.
- Mixed vaccine must be used within 24 hours (either stored at in refrigerator (2°C - 8°C) or at room temperature (up to 30°C).
- Administration is via IM only.
- For details, see BCCDC Part 4 – Biological Products Avian Influenza Vaccine (Arepanrix™ H5N1).
Appointment booking
ImmsBC is not being used to book appointments. There are no specific booking procedures for appointments other than to follow the established intervals indicated in the guidelines. Pharmacies are encouraged to book appointments as closely together as possible to maximize the doses within each vial.
Ordering vaccine
Due to limited supply, only a small number of vaccine doses are available in B.C. H5N1 vaccine cannot be ordered at pharmacy distributors at this time. BCCDC are managing distribution and will provide doses to local public health clinics. A targeted few pharmacies have been identified by public health (VCH and FH) to support vaccine administration and will receive doses directly from their local public health unit. Non-participating pharmacies are to direct eligible clients to their local public health regarding availability
Participating pharmacies: Please follow your local public health procedure in picking up vaccine and ordering doses.
- VCH: Please note auxiliary supplies can be procured through the VCH CDC Regional Immunization team at cdcvaccines@vch.ca if required.
Non-participating pharmacies: If your pharmacy does not provide the vaccine, please refer eligible clients to their local public health clinic or participating pharmacies:
- VCH – Find an immunization clinic or Pharmacies offering vaccines to book the immunization appointment at a designated pharmacy
- FHA – Avian Influenza
- VIHA – Avian Influenza Vaccine
PharmaNet entry
- Arepanrix™ (H5N1) vaccine is entered in PharmaNet (not ImmsBC). Information is extracted into the Provincial Immunization Registry (PIR) from PharmaNet and recorded on the client’s Health Gateway.
- Arepanrix™ (H5N1) PIN: 66128551
- Record the lot number printed on the box as it represents both the antigen and the adjuvant. For PharmaNet entries see How to claim publicly funded vaccines and Procedures for pharmacists: Submitting a claim for administering a publicly funded vaccines (except COVID-19 and influenza).
- Vaccine administration fee is $12.10 when providing publicly funded vaccines to eligible B.C. residents. See PharmaCare Administering publicly funded vaccines
Wastage
Reporting process: All wastage must be reported as per your local public health clinic procedure.
Please note: Vaccine doses cannot be transferred between pharmacies.
Health care provider resources
- Avian Influenza A (H5N1) Immunization Program Q&A for Immunization Providers – July 2025
- BC immunization guidelines: BCCDC Part 4 Biological Products – Avian Influenza Vaccine (Arepanrix™ H5N1)
- BCCDC webpage: Avian Influenza
- Arepanrix™ H5N1 product monograph
- VHC - H5N1 Immunization Clinic Toolkit (link TBC)
- Arepanrix™ H5N1 product monograph
- VCH pharmacies: contact VCH
- Arepanrix H5N1 vaccine mixing and administration video and infographic
- GSK’s pandemic influenza vaccine website -- English and French versions
Public-facing resources
- Avian Influenza Client Information Sheet
- BCCDC webpage Avian Influenza
- BCPhA resource webpage -- link TBC -- Avian (H5N1 vaccine)