Canada government says that it may approve a Covid-19 vaccine developed by Moderna before the end of this year, just as the Pfizer-BioNTech shots that got a go-ahead in the country this week are set to arrive on Monday and rolled out thereafter. Canada has so far ordered 40 million doses of the Moderna vaccine.
The Pfizer vaccine, with an initial tranche of a limited 2,49,000 doses, will be targeted at the sections most vulnerable to the pandemic. Health authorities have indicated that the Moderna vaccine could also be made available soon, possibly before the end of 2020.
Health Canada’s chief medical advisor Dr Supriya Sharma told the media that it was within the “realm of possibility” that the Moderna vaccine could be approved within that time period though that depended on additional information that has been requested from the company.
The government is celebrating the imminent arrival of the initial batch of Pfizer’s vaccines in the country. Federal minister of public services and procurement Anita Anand echoed that mood in the House of Commons. “This has been a wonderful week for Canadians. We are going to have vaccines in this country on Monday.”
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