Dr Anthony Fauci on the vaccine development against Covid-19
Canada's health regulator on Wednesday approved Pfizer's Covid-19 vaccine, days ahead of possible approval in the United States.
Health Canada posted on it is website that the vaccine made by US drugmaker Pfizer and Germany's BioNTech is authorised. The vaccine already has been approved by the United Kingdom and Bahrain and officials have said they expect US approval within days.
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"Canadians can feel confident that the review process was rigorous and that we have strong monitoring systems in place. Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada will closely monitor the safety of the vaccine once it is on the market and will not hesitate to take action if any safety concerns are identified," Health Canada said in a statement.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford, right, and Ontario Health Minister Christine Elliott look at freezers ahead of Covid-19 vaccine distribution in Toronto. Photo / Nathan Denette, AP
New Zealand has a purchase agreement for 1.5 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine - enough for 750,000 people - but they are not expected to arrive until March next year.
Canada is set to receive up to 249,000 doses this month and Canadian officials expect to administer them within days.
Health Canada said the vaccine is for use in people 16 years of age or older, but noted Pfizer-BioNTech are running further clinical trials on children of all age groups and that could change.
Pfizer and BioNTech said it will supply a minimum of 20 million doses to Canada through 2021 and as many as 76 million.
"It is encouraging to see that our mRNA vaccine is now authorised in Canada. Following UK and Bahrain, it is the third country to approve use of our vaccine within a week," said Sean Marett, BioNTech's chief business and chief commercial officer.
Canada recently amended the contract with Pfizer so that it would deliver up to 249,000 doses this month. That will mean about 124,500 of the highest risk Canadians will get vaccinated at first as two doses are required per person a few weeks apart.
Canada has contracts with six other vaccine makers as well.
The government has said 14 distribution centers will be located in large Canadian cities initially. There will be at least one in each province and two each in Canada's four largest provinces.
"This is phenomenal news for all Canadians as we take the next step toward ending this pandemic. As soon as vaccines arrive on Ontario soil, we will be ready to deliver and administer them," Ontario Premier Doug Ford said in a tweet.
This is phenomenal news for all Canadians as we take the next step toward ending this pandemic. As soon as vaccines arrive on Ontario soil, we will be ready to deliver and administer them.
