The Canadian government just put in a massive order for a potential COVID-19 vaccine
Posted August 31, 2020 9:22 am.
Last Updated August 31, 2020 12:36 pm.
Ottawa has put in an order for a potential COVID-19 vaccine.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the federal government has signed agreements with two more American suppliers to reserve millions of doses of their experimental vaccines for Canadians.
#Breaking Novavax Inc. of Maryland announces contract with the Gov't of Canada to provide up to 76 million doses of a Covid-19 vaccine aiming for Q2 2021. Novavax vaccine is currently in Phase 2 clinical trials. Subject to Health Canada approvals.
— Mike Eppel (@eppman) August 31, 2020
Biotechnology company ‘Novavax’ says it has reached an agreement in principle with the federal government to supply up to 76 million doses of its vaccine.
That would be enough to deliver two doses to almost every Canadian.
Trudeau says the vaccines all show promising results and Canada is signing multiple deals to be sure when a vaccine is approved Canadians can get access to it.
“Their most recent vaccine tests show promising results,” said Trudeau.
“That’s why we’re making sure that if one of these potential vaccines is successful, Canada and Canadians will have access to the doses they need.”
The government says some of the doses of whatever vaccine is approved may be produced at a new biomanufacturing facility at the Human Health Therapeutics Research Centre in Montreal.
This is the third such deal Canada has made with COVID-19 vaccine developers, adding Novavax to similar arrangements made with Pfizer and Moderna earlier this month.
The vaccine is currently in multiple stage 2 clinical trials.
The agreement is expected to supply doses to Canada beginning in the second quarter of 2021.
With files from The Canadian Press
