By Elishya Perera
MONTRÉAL, Québec (CWBN)_ Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says that Health Canada’s approval of the Pfizer vaccine could come by the end of this week, as the first doses of the vaccine are set to arrive next week.
During a news conference held in Ottawa yesterday (Dec 7), The Prime Minister said, while the contract with the American pharmaceutical company and its German partner BioNTech, has been adjusted in such a manner that around 249,000 doses of their vaccine will be delivered to Ottawa before the end of December, however, immunisation of Canadians depends on the approval by Health Canada.
“It has been a difficult year, and we are not out of this crisis yet,” the Prime Minister said. “But now, vaccines are coming.”
The Public Health Agency of Canada is overseeing the distribution of vaccines in Canada, and the Agency’s vice-president Maj.-Gen. Dany Fortin said once delivered to Canada, it would take an additional day or two for the vaccines to be thawed and prepared for vaccination.
Last week, the National Advisory Committee on Immunisation recommended that when distributing the first doses, priority be given to front-line health workers, residents and workers of long-term care homes, as well as individuals over the age of 80.
While provincial governments may decide who receives the first doses, however, remote locations including northern Indigenous reserves, would not be receiving any doses of the shipment expected next week, due to their inability to accommodate the required level of temperature (-70C for the Pfizer vaccine), before it is diluted for vaccination.
Fortin said, Canada and its provinces conducted a dry run to ensure its readiness to receive and distribute the vaccines, and accordingly, empty boxes were shipped from Belgium yesterday.
Canada appears to be on track to be the second country to receive the Pfizer vaccine, as the United Kingdom approved it for use last week. However, PM Trudeau said, unlike the US, UK or several other countries, Health Canada would not provide emergency use approval for any of the COVID-19 vaccines. He said the regular process of approving vaccines is being followed in Canada.
