Manitoba premier says government will buy prospective Canadian vaccine directly

By news staff

The Manitoba government is committing to buy two million doses of a prospective Canadian vaccine that is currently in clinical trials.

Premier Brian Pallister says his government has signed a term sheet with Providence Therapeutics, which operates in Toronto and Calgary, and started the trials last month.

He says the deal includes a best-price guarantee and hinges on the vaccine being approved for use in Canada.

“Building a secure, made-in-Canada vaccine supply will help more Canadians get their COVID-19 vaccine sooner. The Government of Manitoba is pleased to be working with Providence Therapeutics and their Manitoba partners to get these life-saving vaccines produced right here at home,” said Pallister.

“This agreement is the first step in providing vaccine insurance for the present pandemic, for the future of this pandemic, and for the next pandemic too. We encourage other provinces and the federal government to join with us in building a national process that will help protect all Canadians.”

Pallister says provinces have had to rely on the federal government for vaccines and supplies have come slowly.

Providence’s chief executive officer, Brad Sorenson, has asked the federal government for $150 million to pay for the clinical trials and material costs.

“This is great news for Manitobans and Canadians. We welcome the initiative demonstrated by the Manitoba government as this means that we are now on course to manufacture and deliver a COVID-19 vaccine in Canada in 2021,” Sorenson said.

We are looking forward to engagement with other provinces and the federal government in the near future so that we can produce vaccines for more Canadians across the country.”

In exchange, Providence is offering Canada a 30 percent discount on market prices and priority access to vaccines that may be needed for variants and booster shots.


With files from The Canadian Press

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