Canada: "Moderna Vaccine May Be Approved as Early as This Week"... About 160,000 Doses to Arrive Within the Year

Prime Minister Trudeau: "Delivery within 48 hours after health authority approval"
Expecting supply of 6 million doses along with Pfizer vaccine in March next year

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] The Canadian government announced that it plans to approve the use of Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine as early as this week and will import 168,000 doses by the end of the year. Along with the Pfizer vaccine, which began vaccinations earlier, up to 6 million doses will be distributed nationwide in Canada, aiming to vaccinate 3 million people.

According to Canadian CBC on the 15th (local time), Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stated at a press conference, "Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine is expected to receive health authority approval as early as this week, and delivery will begin within 48 hours of approval," adding, "168,000 doses will be imported into Canada within this month." He continued, "Together with the Pfizer vaccine, it will help protect Canadian citizens as quickly as possible," emphasizing, "Our preparedness is very well established."

Canada began importing 30,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine last weekend and started vaccinations yesterday, focusing on priority groups such as healthcare workers and nursing home residents. However, due to the need to maintain an ultra-cold cold chain at minus 70°C to preserve the Pfizer vaccine's efficacy, regions in the Arctic Circle lacking proper freezing facilities were excluded from this round of vaccinations.

The Moderna vaccine can be managed with freezing facilities at around minus 20°C, making transportation and storage much easier than the Pfizer vaccine. The Canadian government plans to supply a total of 6 million doses, including 4 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine and 2 million doses of the Moderna vaccine, by March next year to complete vaccinations for 3 million people. According to CBC, the Canadian government has secured about 30 million doses through advance purchase agreements, including 40 million doses of the Moderna vaccine and 20 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine, and has also prepared options to purchase additional quantities if necessary.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.