Canada receives first shipment of Moderna COVID vaccines

Officers say Moderna vaccine might be distributed to distant, remoted communities in northern Canada.

Canada has acquired its first cargo of Moderna Inc’s COVID-19 vaccines, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stated Thursday, because the nation urged folks to restrict their contacts through the Christmas and New Yr’s holidays.

Trudeau stated the primary cargo of Moderna vaccines is a part of the 168,000 doses that Canada expects to obtain earlier than the tip of December.

“These are a part of the 168,000 doses we’ll be getting earlier than the tip of the month, and a part of the 40 million doses we’re assured from Moderna general,” he tweeted.

Well being Canada on Wednesday approved the Moderna vaccine to be used in Canada, saying it had met the company’s “stringent security, efficacy and high quality necessities”.

The primary doses of Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine have arrived in Canada. These are a part of the 168,000 doses we’ll be getting earlier than the tip of the month, and a part of the 40 million doses we’re assured from Moderna general. pic.twitter.com/eKhQ6v8xSA

— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) December 24, 2020

Canada is the second nation to approve the Moderna vaccine, after the US’ Meals and Drug Administration (FDA) on December 18 approved it for emergency use.

Moderna’s COVID-19 shot is the second authorized in Canada after the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, which is already being administered to healthcare staff and long-term care dwelling residents in a number of provinces.

In contrast to the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, the Moderna vaccine doesn’t need to be stored at ultra-low freezing temperatures, and Canadian officers stated they plan to ship it to extra distant areas of the nation.

“The completely different storage and dealing with necessities of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine imply that it may be distributed to remoted and distant communities, together with the territories,” Well being Canada stated this week.

Anita Anand, Canada’s minister of public companies and procurement, tweeted Thursday that the primary Moderna cargo “would be the first #COVID19 vaccine deployed in Canada’s North”.

1/ Simply someday after Well being Canada approval, I’m happy to be available because the Moderna vaccine arrives in 🇨🇦! That is the primary cargo of a complete 40M doses that our gov’t has procured from Moderna and would be the first #COVID19 vaccine deployed in Canada’s North. pic.twitter.com/b1TR9mFbXG

— Anita Anand (@AnitaOakville) December 24, 2020

The well being and social companies minister for Yukon, certainly one of Canada’s northern territories, stated in an announcement Wednesday that the Moderna vaccine approval was “thrilling information Yukoners have been ready for”.

Pauline Frost stated Yukon expects to obtain an preliminary cargo of seven,200 doses of the vaccine to inoculate three,600 folks with two pictures. As of Thursday morning, the territory had no active cases of COVID-19.

“Yukon will obtain sufficient doses to vaccinate 75 p.c of the eligible grownup inhabitants in early 2021,” stated Frost, including that long-term care residents and employees would obtain the vaccine first.

Canada is battling a surge in COVID-19 instances and hospitalisations throughout the nation.

On Thursday, probably the most populous province, Ontario, reported 2,447 new COVID-19 infections – its highest single-day tally for the reason that begin of the pandemic – and 49 further deaths linked to the novel coronavirus.

Well being officers in neighbouring Quebec additionally reported a single-day excessive with 2,349 new instances, in addition to 46 extra deaths.

Each the Quebec and Ontario governments are getting ready to place new restrictions in place within the coming days as a part of their efforts to stem the unfold of the virus.