Well being Canada is ready to finish its critiques of the Novavax and Medicago COVID-19 vaccines “within the coming weeks,” in response to the company’s deputy minister.
“The Well being Canada devoted regulatory groups for every submission are working very laborious at these. They're depending on data from the businesses to finish these critiques, however we anticipate to be making choices on each vaccines within the coming weeks,” mentioned Well being Canada Deputy Minister Stephen Lucas, dealing with questions from MPs on the Home of Commons Well being Committee on Tuesday.
If licensed by the federal regulator, these vaccines would turn into the primary COVID-19 vaccines to be made in Canada.
Whereas Novavax is a Maryland-based firm, in February 2021— dealing with strain over Canada’s depleted home vaccine manufacturing capability— the federal authorities signed a take care of Novavax to supply its COVID-19 vaccine at a brand new Montreal facility. That facility opened this summer time, with the goal of manufacturing vaccines in early 2022. Well being Canada has been reviewing Novavax’s protein-based COVID-19 vaccine since January 2021.
Medicago, which is headquartered in Quebec, has had their COVID-19 vaccine underneath overview by Well being Canada since April 2021. The federal authorities has dedicated $173 million in the direction of the plant-based COVID-19 vaccine candidate and the eventual Canadian manufacturing of it in Quebec Metropolis.
NDP MP Don Davies and Conservative MP Ryan Williams each requested concerning the standing of those critiques at Tuesday’s assembly citing curiosity in having made-in-Canada choices in addition to different choices to doubtlessly deal with vaccine hesitancy.
The authorities has contracts in place securing as much as 76 million doses every of the Medicago and Novavax vaccines, ought to they be required.
Requested on the assembly how quickly Canadian manufacturing of COVID-19 vaccines might occur, Well being Minister Jean-Yves Duclos couldn't give a solution.
A vial of the Part 3 Novavax coronavirus vaccine is seen prepared to be used within the trial at St. George's College hospital in London Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2020. (AP Photograph/Alastair Grant)
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