Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has said that the Federal Government has signed agreements with two additional American suppliers to keep millions of doses of their experimental COVID-19 vaccines for Canadians.
According to the Prime Minister, deals are now in place for Canada to have access to vaccines that are being tested by both Johnson & Johnson and Novavax. Ottawa recently signed similar deals with Pfizer and Moderna.
While talking about the agreements, Trudeau said: “Their most recent vaccine tests show promising results. 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 experimental vaccines are still in Phase 2 or 3 clinical trials and will not be bought unless they certified safe and effective by Health Canada.
Trudeau said Canadians could get access to at least 88 million doses of vaccines but some vaccines will require over a dose to be effective.
The agreement with Novavax is for around 76 million doses of its vaccine, which currently is in Phase 2 clinical trials in Australia and United States. The earliest date that vaccine may be ready for widespread testing is next spring.
The agreement with Johnson & Johnson is for about 38 million doses. A Phase 1 and 2 trial of that vaccine is going on in Belgium and United States.
