Doubts about the delay in delivery of the COVID-19 vaccine in Canada remain pending, with dose reductions for Modern and Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines occurring in February.
Maj.-Gen. Dany Fortin, vice president of logistics and operations for the Canadian Public Health Agency and head of the country’s vaccine distribution efforts, confirmed that 180,000 doses of the Modern COVID-19 vaccine arrived in Canada on Thursday morning. Canada was initially expected to receive 230,000 doses of the Modern COVID-19 vaccine this week.
In the week of February 22, the company’s next shipment is due, but although 249,000 doses were initially expected this week, the federal government expects to receive less than that amount, while the exact amount has yet to be confirmed with the manufacturer.
“Moderna has indicated that it is, in good faith, doing its best to provide as many doses as possible,” Gen Brig. Fortin said. “They did not share the specifications of the challenges … in their yields or in their production, but they remain committed to supplying us two million by the end of March.”
More than 1.1 million doses of vaccine have been delivered across Canada, with 79,000 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine delivered this week. Maj.-Gen. Fortin said a total of 70,000 doses are expected to arrive next week.
He added that shipments should be increased to 335,000 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine in the week of February 15 and 395,000 doses in the last week of February.
Dr. Howard Njoo, Canada’s deputy director of public health, talked about getting six doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine from each vile instead of five.
Dr. Njoo explained that the product monograph for each individual vile was approved for five doses, but Pfizer has submitted an application to have an approved change in Canada.
“They have to provide the data and information so that Health Canada is comfortable with the possibility that the product monograph is or should be changed because you can consistently and regularly take six doses per vile,” he said. Dr. Njoo.
On Wednesday, Alberta Prime Minister Jason Kenney shared a chart that shows Canada is 29th in the global vaccine administration.
“Canada is not the first in line for COVID-19 vaccines, as promised,” says the caption for Kenney.
“Vaccines are over and we are now the 29th in the world with vaccination per 100,000. We need more vaccines and we need them now. “
Check out our COVID-19 topic page in Canada for the latest news, tips, health updates, cases and more.