MODERNA SHOTS SOON
Feds OK second vaccine
Health Canada approved the Moderna vaccine Wednesday, giving Canadians a literal second shot in the arm in the fight against the virus.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he hoped doses would be available soon.
“We have the green light to start rolling it out across the country. The first doses of our guaranteed 40-million-dose order from Moderna will arrive in the coming days,” he said.
Canada is set to receive 168,700 doses of Moderna's product before the end of this month, part of two million expected before the end of March.
Moderna's product is easier to transport and store than the first approved vaccine from Pfizer, which has been administered to thousands of health care workers in hospitals and long-term care centres.
Pfizer's vaccine requires ultra cold freezers, storing the vaccine below -70C, but Moderna's can be stored at -20C. Due to these logistical challenges, the Pfizer vaccine wasn't shipped to the Territories, and they will get extra doses of the Moderna product to make up the difference.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford said the Moderna vaccine will be a huge asset for the government's rollout, because it can be brought directly to long-term care homes, retirement communities and other communal living centres.
“The Moderna vaccine is a real gamechanger as it does not need to be stored at extremely cold temperatures and is more mobile,” Ford said in a statement. “For the first time, we can take the vaccine directly to our priority groups.”
Trudeau also announced a boost in upcoming deliveries in the new year. Canada was set to receive 500,000 doses of Pfizer's vaccine, at the rate of 125,000 a week in January, but Trudeau said they would get 250,000 more, for a total of 750,000 in January.
Combined with the deliveries in December and deliveries of Moderna's vaccine, Canada will have received 1.2 million doses by the end of January, Trudeau said. Both vaccines require two doses several weeks apart, which will give Canada enough vaccines to cover 600,000 people.
Trudeau also announced an extension of the current ban on flights from the United Kingdom, due to a new variant of the virus that appears to spread much more easily. He stressed now is not the time for travel and encouraged snowbirds to stay home in Canada as well.
“Let's be clear: this is not the right time for a vacation abroad. Even if you travel every winter — rethink those plans.”
Trudeau asked people to stay home this Christmas and avoid gatherings to prevent spread of the virus. He said Canadians need to remain vigilant, but things will get better.
“However dark the winter may be, spring is coming, better days will be back,” he said.
As of Wednesday, Canada had seen 521,509 cases of the virus, including 14,425 deaths. The country is averaging 6,614 new cases a day and is seeing new infections across age groups and throughout most of the country.
Pfizer has been delivering its vaccine directly to the provinces, but the government will collect the vaccine from Moderna facilities in Europe and deliver them to provinces.
Maj.- Gen. Dany Fortin said they expect the first Moderna doses to be in the
NO INDICATIONS OF ANY MISHAPS ANYWHERE, SO WE'RE VERY HAPPY ABOUT HOW THIS HAS BEEN ROLLED OUT
provinces' hands Dec. 28. He said the Pfizer rollout has been going very smoothly.
“We've had 74 different sites this week. A few more added next week and no indications of any mishaps anywhere, so we're very happy about how this has been rolled out.”
Fortin couldn't give direct numbers, but said he expects deliveries will continue to increase after that to make up the balance of the six million doses the companies have promised in the first quarter.
“I anticipate a significant growth in quantities available in February and March.”
Dr. Supriya Sharma, Health Canada's chief medical adviser, who has been overseeing the approval process, said Moderna's vaccine is effective and there were no serious side effects.
“Assessing all the data we concluded that there was strong evidence that shows the benefits of this vaccine outweighs the potential risk.”
The vaccine is administered in two doses a month apart. Anyone who is allergic to the ingredients in the vaccine is being cautioned against taking it.
Sharma said while the review was done quickly, no corners were cut and they're confident in the results.
Sharma said there is still more testing to be done, but they believe both vaccines can protect against the new variant coming from the U.K.