Canada’s COVID-19 vaccine rollout system to be ready next month, approval expected soon

OTTAWA (NEWS 1130) – A COVID-19 vaccine should be available in Canada in a few weeks as the federal government signals its distribution system is almost ready to go.

In a briefing Thursday, Deputy Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Howard Njoo didn’t confirm any exact dates for the rollout, however, he did say Health Canada is expected to make the first vaccine decision soon.

“At this time, we’re preparing for one of the most ambitious and complex vaccination programs ever delivered in this country,” he said. “We will immunize as many Canadians as possible as quickly as possible.”

In the meantime, the country’s distribution plan is nearing finalization.

Major General Dany Fortin says the federal and provincial delivery systems will be having a dry run of vaccine distribution on Monday, and by Dec. 14, the system is expected to be ready to receive the vaccine.

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Due to the cold storage requirements of some vaccines, doses will have to be delivered directly to provinces for distribution to Canadians.

Here is a graphic showing that the Pfizer vaccine needs to be delivered directly to the point where the vaccine will be administered, while the Moderna vaccine can be delivered and stored before being transferred to vaccination clinic #cdnpoli pic.twitter.com/eSOMktGoRR

— Cormac Mac Sweeney (@cmaconthehill) December 3, 2020

Fortin adds Pfizer will be the first vaccine to arrive with deliveries expected in early January. Health officials have said previously they expected to approve vaccines around the same time as the U.S. and Europe.

Dr. Supriya Sharma, with Health Canada, says final critical data from Pfizer is expected Friday, and Moderna isn’t far behind.

“Part of that information is really around the manufacturing process and which specific lots may be destined for Canada,” she said.

The federal Conservatives put forward a motion in the House of Commons demanding exact dates and vaccination rates from the government.

Dr. Howard Njoo says after the first quarter (6-million doses expected), the government is expecting millions more from Pfizer and Moderna, and maybe more if other vaccine candidates are approved. #cdnpoli

— Cormac Mac Sweeney (@cmaconthehill) December 3, 2020

Health Canada is currently considering four vaccines for approval, with Johnson & Johnson recently joining the list that includes Pfizer, Moderna and AstraZeneca.

In Britain, rollout of the Pfizer vaccine is expected to begin sometime next week though British politicians have warned that it will take time to get it to most citizens.

The U.K. government says frontline health care workers and nursing home residents will be first in line for the approved vaccine, followed by older adults.

-with files from Michael Ranger