Alert level: green OPQ: Q-763 Session: 451 Suggested file name: Benefits_of_the_vaccine_outweigh_risks Tabled on: March 11, 2026 Agencies: Estimated questions: 9 Estimated responses: 11 Original filename: Q-763 - Benefits of the vaccine outweigh risks, Response from March 11, 2026 .pdf External links / references: (none detected) Extracted PDF text preview: Q-763 Question With regard to Health Canada, the Public Health Agency of Canada and the National Advisory Committee on Immunization and their statement, “the benets of the COVID-19 vaccines outweigh the risks”: (a) what are the benets of the COVID-19 vaccines, broken down by (i) benet, (ii) supporting studies or documents and their published date, (iii) start and end dates of the benet analysis, (iv) name and title of those who analyzed the benet; (b) what are the risks of the COVID-19 vaccines, broken down by (i) risk, (ii) supporting studies or documents and their published dates, (iii) date on which the risk was identied, (iv) start and end dates of the risk analysis, (v) name and title of those who analyzed the risk; (c) was a risk and benet analysis performed for each COVID-19 vaccine product; (d) if the answer to (c) is armative, (i) what are the start and end dates of each analysis, (ii) what are the differences between the product analysis results; (e) was a separate risk and benet analysis performed for (i) various age groups, (ii) genders, (iii) pregnant women, (iv) the immunocompromised, (v) First Nations and Indigenous populations; (f) if the answer to (e) is armative, for each group in (e), what are the (i) start and end dates for each analysis performed, (ii) name and title of those who performed them; (g) was a risk and benet analysis performed for Canadians who were previously infected with COVID-19; and (h) if the answer to (g) is armative, for each analysis performed, what (i) was the start date, (ii) was the end date, (iii) were the conclusions of the analysis? Response This response was tabled in the House of Commons on March 11, 2026, as Sessional Paper 8555-451-763. Order/Address of the House of Commons Question number Q-763 Asked by Cathay Wagantall (Yorkton—Melville) Date asked January 22, 2026 Tabled on March 11, 2026 Sessional Paper 8555-451-763 House of Commons Health Canada Reply by: the Minister of Health Name of Signatory: Maggie Chi Reply Health Canada (a) what are the benets of the COVID-19 vaccines, broken down by (i) benet, (ii) supporting studies or documents and their published date, (iii) start and end dates of the benet analysis, (iv) name and title of those who analyzed the benet; (b) what are the risks of the COVID-19 vaccines, broken down by (i) risk, (ii) supporting studies or documents and their published dates, (iii) date on which the risk was identied, (iv) start and end dates of the risk analysis, (v) name and title of those who analyzed the risk; (c) was a risk and benet analysis performed for each COVID-19 vaccine product; (d) if the answer to (c) is armative, (i) what are the start and end dates of each analysis, (ii) what are the differences between the product analysis results; (e) was a separate risk and benet analysis performed for (i) various age groups, (ii) genders, (iii) pregnant women, (iv) the immunocompromised, (v) First Nations and Indigenous populations; (f) if the answer to (e) is armative, for each group in (e), what are the (i) start and end dates for each analysis performed, (ii) name and title of those who performed them; (g) was a risk and benet analysis performed for Canadians who were previously infected with COVID-19; and (h) if the answer to (g) is armative, for each analysis performed, what (i) was the start date, (ii) was the end date, (iii) were the conclusions of the analysis? Presented by Kevin Lamoureux Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons All vaccines made available for human use in Canada have undergone a rigorous scientific review process and are grounded in established regulatory standards. Information on these standards can be found at: Regulating vaccines for human use in Canada - Canada.ca. Canada’s vaccine safety surveillance system is a collaborative effort involving Health Canada, the Public Health Agency of Canada, provinces and territories, and manufacturers. Adverse events following immunization are collected and monitored through both the Canada Vigilance Program, managed by Health Canada, and the Canadian Adverse Events Following Immunization Surveillance System, managed by the Public Health Agency of Canada. Reports from both systems are monitored continuously and support ongoing safety oversight. Reported events do not necessarily imply a causal relationship with vaccination but are critical for detecting potential safety signals. In the case of COVID-19 vaccines, Health Canada conducted a comprehensive benefit-risk analysis based on a wide range of available evidence, including clinical trial results supporting authorized indications (including specific age groups), non ‑ clinical data, and the public health need at the time of review. The decision to issue a Notice of Compliance for vaccines was based on a positive benefit–risk profile. Following authorization, Health Canada publishes information summarizing the evidence reviewed and the rationale for its regulatory decisions. Product ‑ specific details are publicly available through the COVID ‑ 19 vaccines and treatments portal, including Regulatory Decision Summaries, Summary Basis of Decision documents, and Product Monographs, which outline known benefits and risks, including adverse reactions. Benefit–risk assessments are ongoing throughout a vaccine’s lifecycle. Health Canada requires manufacturers to comply with terms and conditions related to quality, clinical evidence, labelling, and risk management, and to submit regular safety updates and reports of adverse events following immunization. Health Canada continually evaluates whether new information affects a vaccine’s benefit–risk profile. Health Canada also reviews emerging evidence from scientific literature and international regulators. Outcomes of post ‑ authorization safety reviews are summarized in the Post ‑ Authorization Activity Tables, which are updated regularly and made publicly available through the COVID ‑ 19 vaccines and treatments portal, along with advisories and risk communications. Up ‑ to ‑ date information on authorized COVID ‑ 19 vaccines, including known risks and side effects, is provided in the Canadian Product Monographs, updated as new safety information becomes available. The Product Monographs are available on Health Canada’s Drug and Health Products Portal. Health Canada continues to monitor COVID ‑ 19 vaccines as part of its routine oversight of all health products. If a new safety concern is identified and confirmed, appropriate regulatory actions are taken, including communicating risks to Canadians and healthcare professionals or adjusting recommended use, as necessary. Public Health Agency of Canada (a) what are the benets of the COVID-19 vaccines, broken down by (i) benet, (ii) supporting studies or documents and their published date, (iii) start and end dates of the benet analysis, (iv) name and title of those who analyzed the benet; (b) what are the risks of the COVID-19 vaccines, broken down by (i) risk, (ii) supporting studies or documents and their published dates, (iii) date on which the risk was identied, (iv) start and end dates of the risk analysis, (v) name and title of those who analyzed the risk? COVID ‑ 19 vaccines provide substantial protection against severe illness, hospitalization, and death, particularly for individuals at elevated risk such as older adults, people with underlying medical conditions, pregnant individuals, and residents of long ‑ term care or other congregate settings. Updated vaccines help boost immunity that naturally wanes over time and maintain strong defense against circulating variants. Vaccination remains an essential public health measure that reduces the burden on healthcare systems and strengthens population-level resilience by decreasing the likelihood of severe outcomes across diverse groups. Published National Advisory Committee on Immunization Statements including on COVID-19 vaccines includ