Health Canada Seals COVID‑19 Vaccine Injury Files for 15 Years, Raising Transparency Concerns
Health Canada has confirmed that records related to COVID‑19 vaccine injury claims will remain sealed from public access for up to 15 years — a decision drawing criticism from transparency advocates and prompting new questions about accountability in Canada’s pandemic response.
The sealed files relate to reports and claims submitted through federal vaccine‑safety monitoring and compensation programs. While Health Canada maintains that authorized vaccines are safe and effective, critics argue that restricting access to injury‑related records for more than a decade undermines public trust and limits independent oversight.
What’s in the Sealed Records
The documents reportedly include adverse‑event reports, medical assessments, internal reviews, and correspondence tied to compensation claims filed after COVID‑19 vaccination. Health Canada says the long‑term restriction is required to protect personal medical information and is consistent with federal privacy legislation.
Why Critics Are Concerned
Transparency advocates say that while personal identifiers must remain confidential, anonymized data and information about how claims were evaluated should be accessible much sooner. They argue that a 15‑year blackout prevents Canadians from understanding how many claims were approved or denied, what criteria were used, and how federal officials made decisions.
Critics also note that COVID‑19 vaccines were authorized under accelerated processes during an unprecedented public health emergency. Because of that, they say there is an even stronger need for openness after the fact — especially when it comes to monitoring safety outcomes and government responses.
Some are calling for the release of redacted summaries or regular public reporting rather than a blanket seal on all records.
Public Confidence and Accountability
The decision comes at a time when trust in public institutions remains fragile after years of pandemic restrictions, mandates, and emergency measures. For some Canadians, sealing the files reinforces the perception that government agencies are reluctant to allow independent review of pandemic‑era decisions.
Health Canada maintains that vaccine safety monitoring is ongoing and that serious adverse reactions remain rare. Officials emphasize that the benefits of vaccination outweighed the risks during the pandemic.
However, critics argue that transparency — not assurances — is what builds trust. They say researchers, journalists, and the public should be able to examine anonymized data to better understand how the system functioned.
Calls for Greater Openness
Advocates are urging the federal government to shorten the restriction period or release redacted versions of the documents that protect privacy while preserving meaningful information. Others want parliamentary oversight or an independent review of how vaccine injury claims were handled.
They argue that Canadians who followed public health guidance deserve clarity about how decisions were made and how those who experienced adverse effects were supported.
Looking Ahead
As Canada continues to assess the long‑term impacts of the COVID‑19 pandemic, debates over transparency and accountability are unlikely to fade. The decision to seal vaccine injury records for 15 years has become a focal point in broader discussions about government openness, public trust, and how emergency powers are used during crises.
For many Canadians, the issue is not about opposing vaccines — it’s about ensuring that public institutions remain accountable, especially when decisions affect millions of people.
