Does Canada have a secure supply of vaccine?

Concerns rise again with threats of export controls from Europe

OTTAWA — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he remains confident in Canada’s vaccine supplies coming out of Europe despite warnings from the European Commission that it is going to impose an “export transparency mechanism.’

Speaking to reporters outside his Ottawa residence Tuesday morning, Trudeau said he is “very confident” Canada is going to get all the doses promised by the end of March. And despite the sharp decline in deliveries of a vaccine from Pfizer and BioNTech this month, he said Canada will still vaccinate all Canadians who want shots by the end of September.

“We will continue to work closely with Europe to ensure that we are sourcing, and we are receiving the vaccines that we have signed for that are due,” Trudeau said.

He did not explain the reason for that confidence, including whether he had spoken to any European leaders about the matter.

He said he spoke with Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla last week and Moderna CEO Stéphane Bancel Tuesday morning and received assurances from both about the supply of Canada’s vaccines.

Europe — like Canada — is being shorted on deliveries from Pfizer as the company slows production to expand its plant in Belgium. Canada is getting no deliveries at all from Pfizer this week, and only one-quarter of the previously promised delivery next week.

AstraZeneca, whose vaccine candidate is on tap to be approved in Europe later this week, has also now informed Europe production problems will reduce planned initial deliveries.

Health Canada is reviewing AstraZeneca’s vaccine but won’t make a decision until the company reports results from a large trial in the United States.

Anger in Europe at both Pfizer and AstraZeneca led the European Commission Tuesday to threaten export controls.

All of Canada’s current vaccine doses from Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna are made in Europe, potentially putting at risk the entirety of Canada’s vaccine deliveries.