Premier says province ready to distribute potential COVID-19 vaccine when available
- by Valerie Santiago
- in Medical
- — Nov 28, 2020
"This will be the biggest immunisation in the history of the country", Trudeau told a news conference.
Nova Scotia Premier Stephen McNeil says:"We'll administer it and deal with all of that, but there should be, in my view a national protocol about who gets it".
"Vulnerable" populations first - but also "equitably" across Canada.
COVID-19 has surged in recent weeks across Canada, with several regions putting stricter travel restrictions in place and closing non-essential businesses and services to try to stem the spread of the novel coronavirus.
Speaking to reporters in the capital, Ottawa, on Friday, Trudeau said his government is working closely with provinces and territories to prepare for a vaccine roll-out.
More news: Trump says he'll leave if Electoral College seats Biden"We're working ahead of their deliveries to ensure their safety and efficacy, and Health Canada is now analysing all data provided by the companies", Mr. Trudeau commented.
"If all goes well, most Canadians can be vaccinated by next September", said Trudeau, citing public health officials.
The U.S. tapped a former four star general, Gen. Gustave Perna, in May to lead Operation Warp Speed - a project to develop a vaccine, manufacture it in large quantities and push it out into communities.
The U.S. armed forces, working with pharmaceutical distribution giant McKesson and shippers like FedEx, will distribute millions of Pfizer vaccines doses to all 50 U.S. states the day after that product gets the necessary approvals from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which is expected to happen on December 10.
While pharmaceutical company Sanofi has a vaccine plant in Toronto and GlaxoSmithKline has one in Quebec, both make protein-based vaccines, such as the more familiar ones Canadians get every year for the flu.
More news: Ravens-Steelers game pushed to Tuesday due to COVID-19 testsTrudeau called it the "greatest mobilization effort Canada has seen since the Second World War".
It also purchased freezers for specific vaccine candidates that must be stored at very low temperatures.
The prime minister spoke with provinces again Thursday evening about the COVID-19 response and said the federal government is offering the latest information it can, after frustration and confusion about timelines and plans bubbled over this week.
AstraZeneca's vaccine candidate uses viral vector technology, taking a common cold virus that infects chimpanzees and modifying it so it contains SARS-CoV-2 genetic material but can't multiply and make the person getting the vaccine sick. Numerous provinces continue to shatter records for daily cases and hospitals in parts of Canada are struggling to deal with the surge in cases.
"We're in this together, and the more we work as a team, the better we'll all do", said the prime minister on Friday.
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