B.C. tries to secure J&J COVID-19 vaccines with no luck amid shot hesitancy

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – In an attempt to get more people vaccinated, the B.C. Ministry of Health is trying to secure doses of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 shot — but it’s so far not having any luck getting them.

Despite multiple requests from the province, there are apparently no plans to bring the vaccine into Canada.

While the Johnson & Johnson’s shot, also referred to as the Janssen vaccine, is approved for use in Canada, quality control issues at the facility where the first batch to this country came from forced Canada to pause distribution of its initial shipment. Apart from a few thousand doses, the drug hasn’t really been used on this side of the border since.

In a statement to NEWS 1130, B.C.’s health ministry confirms it has made multiple requests to the federal government. It also says up until recently, it had been the only province to make such a request.

BC says its been trying to get doses of the J&J COVID shot b/c the added option could convince some people to roll up their sleeve. But despite multiple requests to the feds, there are no plans to bring the vaccine into Canada, according to Health Ministry statement. @NEWS1130 pic.twitter.com/aHiVvk9X9t

— Monika Gul (@MonikaGul) October 1, 2021

B.C. wants 50,000 doses, arguing a variety of vaccination options is important to ensure vaccines can be provided to as many people as possible to reduce the transmission of the virus.

“This single dose product would be an important option to provide to people who may be difficult to reach for second doses,” the ministry said in an email. “We welcome other provinces joining us in this request.”

Some people who haven’t yet rolled up their sleeve are hesitant because of the mRNA technology used in the Pfizer and Moderna. Health officials have repeatedly said the technology is safe and that it has been researched for years.

The J&J vaccine is the only one against COVID-19 that is a single dose. All other vaccines approved for use in Canada are two doses.

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In August, the federal government announced it would be donating all 10 million doses it purchased from J&J to low- and middle-income countries. The donation was done through the COVAX vaccine-sharing alliance.

According to the federal government, more than 75 per cent of the total population has received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. That percentage rises to over 85 per cent for people aged 12 and up.

As of Thursday, the province says 88 per cent of people 12 and up in B.C. had received at least one dose of a vaccine, while 81 per cent had gotten two.

-With files from The Canadian Press