Is there a vaccine for West Nile virus?

At this time there is no licensed vaccine to protect people against West Nile virus.

For several years, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) in the United States has supported research to develop a vaccine against West Nile virus. Through both intramural research and research grants to investigators throughout the United States, NIAID supports the development of several vaccine approaches, including developing chimeric vaccines (mixing pieces from more than one virus into a single vaccine, naked DNA vaccines, or vaccines containing cocktails of individual West Nile proteins. These candidate West Nile virus vaccines are currently at various states of development, including one that is expected to enter Phase 1 human trials by late summer 2004, pending Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval. The Public Health Agency is monitoring these developments closely.

A vaccine licensed in the U.S. does not receive an automatic license in Canada. Manufacturers or importers who wish to sell a vaccine in Canada must apply to Health Canada for a license. They must also provide Health Canada with scientific evidence that the vaccine is safe and effective when used as directed.

For more information on West Nile virus vaccine development in the United States please see the NIAID West Nile virus fact sheet.