Canada now has contracts for four COVID-19 vaccines

OTTAWA — Canada is near the front of the line to get millions of doses of four of the most promising COVID-19 vaccines in development, but the federal government does not plan to make getting a vaccine mandatory, federal cabinet ministers said Monday.

Procurement Minister Anita Anand announced new deals with Maryland-based biotech company Novavax for Canada to buy as many as 76 million doses of its experimental vaccine candidate, and up to 38 million doses of the vaccine in development by Johnson & Johnson’s pharmaceutical company Janssen Inc.

Earlier this month similar deals were signed with U.S. companies Pfizer and Moderna but Anand only revealed Monday that those deals would see Canada access up to 20 million doses of Pfizer’s candidate and up to 56 million doses of Moderna’s version.

A fifth deal with AstraZeneca is almost complete, Anand said, and deals with other companies could also follow. All are racing to research, test and produce vaccines against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.

“In short, when a vaccine is ready, Canada will be ready,” said Anand.

All four of the vaccines Canada has contracts for, as well as the AstraZeneca candidate, are also part of the United States Operation Warp Speed program, which aims to have a vaccine ready for use by the end of the year.

Health Canada’s approval process for any vaccine must still be followed, which will require proof a vaccine is both safe for use and effective at either preventing COVID-19 or reducing the severity of disease. But Anand said the arrangements put in place with these companies mean if and when one of these vaccines is approved, Canadians will be the first in line to get it.

“We are prepared to protect Canadians who choose to be vaccinated.”

The key word is “choose,” with Health Minister Patty Hajdu ending speculation Monday Canada might force Canadians to get a COVID-19 vaccine.

“We believe that people have a choice in Canada about whether or not to be vaccinated,” Hajdu said. “But we also believe we have an important responsibility as Canadians to take vaccinations to protect our communities.”

Ontario, New Brunswick and Manitoba all have mandatory vaccines kids must have to attend school.

DARRYL DYCK, THE CANADIAN PRESS Specimens to be tested for COVID-19 are seen at LifeLabs in Surrey. The federal government has a deal with a third vaccine developer to get access to their experimental vaccine next spring.