Biden speaks with Trudeau, commits to sending Canada additional vaccines

Joe Biden says there is enough doses to vaccinate all Americans.

By Lucas Casaletto

U.S. President Joe Biden said Wednesday he spoke with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and confirmed that his administration will help Canada secure more doses of COVID-19 vaccines.

Biden told reporters that he talked to Trudeau for about half an hour and implied the U.S. could loan more shots in the coming weeks and months ahead with Canada in the midst of navigating through multiple delays from AstraZeneca and Moderna.

Biden says the White House is looking at what to do with vaccines that aren’t currently in use in the U.S.

That’s likely a reference to the Oxford-AstraZeneca shot, which has been approved for use by Health Canada but not by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

The U.S. has given Canada roughly 1.5 million doses of AstraZeneca and about a million more to Mexico.

“We helped a little bit there, we’re going to try to help some more,” Biden said.

The Prime Minister’s Office issued a statement confirming the meeting between the two leaders, adding that the latest talks about getting access to more vaccines from the U.S. are ongoing and in their early stages.

“The two leaders discussed vaccination efforts in both countries, and the urgency of getting people everywhere vaccinated as quickly as possible to end the global COVID-19 pandemic,” the statement reads.

“The Prime Minister and the President discussed the recent exchange of AstraZeneca vaccines manufactured in the United States.”

Canadians should not expect any imminent deliveries from the U.S. and there is no word yet on exact numbers.

With Americans being vaccinated at a rapid rate, Biden’s comments are a contrast to his administration’s position back in March, when Press Secretary Jen Psaki indicated the U.S. would not allow for the export of doses manufactured in the U.S. any time soon.


RELATED: Canada lags behind U.S., other countries in vaccinations but expects to catch up quickly


With Mexico explicitly asking for help, Psaki ruled the possibility out at the time.

“The president has made clear that he is focused on ensuring that vaccines are accessible to every American. That is our focus,” Psaki said.

The country has had enough supply to vaccinate roughly four times more people, per capita, than Canada in the first three months of 2021.

As of data collected on Tuesday, 40 percent of America’s population has had one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine with 26 percent fully treated against the virus.

Canada, in comparison, has treated 25.6 percent of its population with one dose.

Biden described Trudeau as someone who is working hard to help his country deal with the pandemic.

“The two leaders agreed to stay in close contact over the coming days and weeks.”


With files from 680 NEWS Parliament Hill reporter Cormac Mac Sweeney and The Canadian Press

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