COVID-19 Update for April 23 2021 – Canada Pre-orders Booster Shots
While Canada grapples with the pandemic’s third wave, the federal government is preparing for a future where additional COVID-19 shots may be required.
Amid a third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic that continues to break records across Canada, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said his government is also thinking ahead.
Trudeau announced Canada has reached a new agreement with Pfizer-BioNTech for up to 120 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine over the next several years. The agreement includes 35 million doses for 2022 and 30 million in 2023, with options to acquire an additional 30 million in 2022 and 2023, and 60 million in 2024. The order is for the most recent version of the vaccine based on research and testing to help control variants and mutations.
Trudeau’s announcement follows comments made by Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla on April 1 suggesting a strong likelihood of the need for a third dose between six and 12 months after being fully vaccinated. Bourla also said, “From there, there will be an annual revaccination, but all of that needs to be confirmed.”
The government is also in conversation with other vaccine manufacturers about the potential for securing booster shots, including domestic producers. Earlier this week, Quebec-based Medicago became the first Canadian company to submit a COVID-19 vaccine candidate to Health Canada for approval. Trudeau says the company’s application demonstrates Canada has the talent, knowledge and expertise to develop its own vaccines.
To date, nearly 30 percent of Canadian adults have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. Minister of Procurement Anita Anand anticipates receiving 1.9 million doses over the coming week, including one million from Pfizer, 650,000 from Moderna and Canada’s first 300,000 doses from Johnson & Johnson.