Updated:
Canada has inked an agreement with a U.S. pharmaceutical company to produce their COVID-19 vaccine in Montreal, Que.
Novavax will produce their vaccine at the National Research Council’s Royalmount facility. Pending Health Canada approval, tens of millions of the Novavax doses will be made there, said Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Tuesday.
Once production begins, Novavax could produce around two million doses a month.
Canada has also entered into an agreement with Precision NanoSystems, with projected manufacturing of the vaccine slated for 2023 at the earliest.
Trudeau announced $25.1 million for the Vancouver-based biotechnology company, which is in addition to the $18.2 million the federal government provided for the company’s vaccine trials.
“The past 12 months have been really hard,” Trudeau said. “No one expects this pandemic to end overnight, but you’re probably looking for signs that things are going to get easier.”
This weekend marked a milestone with COVID-19 numbers consistently decreasing across the country, he said.
“It’s because of choices people have made to keep each other safe, and it’s because people are stepping up to do the right thing,” Trudeau said. “We can’t let our guard down now, and doubling down is how we will see even fewer people get sick and save lives.”
Canada is on track to getting everyone who wants the vaccine, vaccinated by September, he said, while announcing the production of the COVID-19 vaccine, which he called a “major step” forward in getting the vaccine made in Canada for Canadians.
“We need as much domestic capacity for vaccine production as possible,” which is why the federal government has invested $46 million in the vaccine development facility at the University of Saskatchewan’s vaccine and infectious disease organization, said Trudeau.
VIDO (Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization) Intervac expects to produce 40 million doses annually.
“Vaccines work, they are safe and effective, and when it’s my turn, I will be ready to roll up my sleeve and get my doses,” said Trudeau.
The federal government is also investing $64 million to make sure Canadians know when and where to get vaccinated.
“No one who wants a vaccine will be left behind, and no community will miss out,” he said.
Original story
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is holding a press conference on the COVID-19 situation at 11:15 a.m. from Rideau Cottage in Ottawa.
The press conference will be streamed live, and we will carry the livestream feed, so stay tuned.
