COVID-19 and IBD

In light of the COVID-19 (COrona VIrus Disease-2019) outbreak, we are providing recommendations based on what we know about inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and COVID-19. Here you will find general information about COVID-19, as well as information about how it may uniquely affect people with IBD. With this information, we hope that we can all do our part to ensure the health of our community.

Research raises questions over safety of delaying the second vaccine dose. People on immunosuppression therapies require timely access to the second dose of COVID-19 vaccines. The COVID-19 & IBD Task Force calls on the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) to include IBD patients on immunosuppression therapies on the list of exceptions for extended dosing intervals. Please click here to read the full statement from the COVID-19 & IBD Task Force and Crohn's and Colitis Canada.

Please be aware that what we know about COVID-19 and how it acts in people with IBD is changing rapidly and so these recommendations may change.

Read the 2021 Impact of COVID-19 & IBD in Canada report.

We will do our best to update these recommendations as new evidence emerges and will inform Canadians with IBD of these changes through our mailing list, social media, and other avenues. We also suggest that you bookmark this page on your browser and monitor it for any updates.

Crohn's and Colitis Canada thanks its COVID-19 and Task Force for their contributions and guidance in creating these resources and recommendations.  

Dr Benchimol and Dr Kaplan photos

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  • Canada has among the highest incidence rates of Crohn's and colitis in the world.
  • 1 in 140 Canadians lives with Crohn’s or colitis.
  • Families new to Canada are developing these diseases for the first time.
  • Incidence of Crohn’s in Canadian kids under 10 has doubled since 1995.
  • People are most commonly diagnosed before age 30.