As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to ravage the world, governments are scrambling to secure vaccines to protect their citizens. One of the most promising vaccines on the market is Pfizer-BioNTech`s mRNA vaccine, which has shown an efficacy rate of 95% in clinical trials. Canadians are no exception to this scramble, and many are wondering if Canada has a vaccine agreement with Pfizer.
The answer to this question is yes, Canada does have an agreement with Pfizer for the delivery of its COVID-19 vaccine. The agreement was announced in August 2020 and was one of Canada`s first vaccine procurement deals. Under the agreement, Canada has secured access to up to 20 million doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, with options to receive more if needed.
The timing of the vaccine`s arrival in Canada has been a topic of much discussion, with many Canadians eager to receive their shots as soon as possible. Initially, Pfizer had projected that it would be able to deliver 4 million doses to Canada by the end of March 2021. However, in January, the company announced that it would be temporarily reducing its vaccine shipments to Canada and other countries as it worked to upgrade its manufacturing facility in Belgium.
Despite this setback, Pfizer has assured Canadians that it remains committed to delivering its vaccine as quickly as possible. The company has said that it expects to make up the shortfall by delivering more doses in the second quarter of 2021. The Canadian government has also been working to secure additional vaccine agreements with other manufacturers, including Moderna, AstraZeneca, and Johnson & Johnson.
In addition to securing vaccine doses, the Canadian government has also been working to ensure that the necessary infrastructure is in place to distribute them quickly and efficiently. This includes working with provinces and territories to set up vaccination clinics, hiring additional healthcare workers, and acquiring specialized freezers for certain vaccines that require ultra-cold storage.
In conclusion, Canada does have a vaccine agreement with Pfizer for its COVID-19 vaccine, and the government is actively working to ensure that Canadians receive their shots as quickly and efficiently as possible. While there have been some setbacks, including temporary reductions in vaccine shipments, the overall outlook is positive, and Canadians can take heart in knowing that their government is working hard to protect them from COVID-19.