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U-S Vaccine Shipment Coming To Canada

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The COVID-19 vaccine shipments are ramping up to Canada.

Brigadier General Krista Brodie, in Friday’s update, indicating that seven million doses of the Moderna vaccine will arrive from the United States by the end of June.

Canada also received 2.4 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine as well as regular deliveries of 100,000 Moderna doses.

Brodie reported close to 32 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been delivered to the country.

When it comes to the U-S Moderna shipments, federal officials are anticipating 2.9 million doses on June 16 and 4.2 million doses by June 18.

Further with the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, Canada could get a shipment of 300,000 vaccines by the end of June.

The country has held back another batch of 310,000 Johnson & Johnson shots because of quality control issues.

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Canadians Can Safely Mix COVID-19 Vaccines: NACI

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Canada’s National Advisory Committee on Immunizations says it’s safe for Canadians to mix COVID-19 vaccine types.

Dr. Theresa Tam, Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer, announced Tuesday anyone with their first dose of AstraZeneca can receive an mRNA vaccine like Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna, for their second dose.

Those who received a first dose of a mRNA vaccine are advised to get a second dose of the same type, but if they are unavailable when it comes time for the second shot Tam said Pfizer and Moderna can be ‘considered interchangeable.’

“The interchangeability of vaccines means you can receive one vaccine product for your first dose, and safely receive a different vaccine for your second dose to complete your two-dose vaccine series for optimal protection from COVID-19,” Tam said.

As provinces reach the threshold of offering first doses to all Canadians aged 12 and older, Tam says it’s now important to turn our attention toward getting second doses into the arms of the most vulnerable residents.

“The committee recommended last week that second doses be offered as soon as possible. NACI recommends that priority for second doses should be given to those at highest risk of severe illness and death from COVID-19 disease after or at the same time as first doses are offered to all remaining eligible populations,” Tam said in a press briefing.

The announcement follows studies and clinical trials into vaccine interchangeability in Germany, Spain and the United Kingdom.

Updated guidance from NACI says those studies show following a dose of AstraZeneca with a mRNA vaccine provides an immune response boost, though there is a possibility of increased short-term side effects, including headache, fatigue and general illness.

Studies have also shown that while the risk of VITT or blood clots caused by vaccines appears to be lower from a second dose, the rate has increased over time. NACI says the second dose of AstraZeneca appears to trigger VITT in 1 out of every 600,000 people who received the shot.

NACI also says so long as Canadians receive two doses of any of the three currently-approved COVID-19 vaccines that individual should be considered to be fully vaccinated from COVID-19.

Individual provincial governments will now have to consider NACI’s guidance and determine whether they will offer residents the opportunity to mix vaccine types for their second doses.

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A Promise To Get More Canadians Vaccinated For COVID-19

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The federal government promises as many as 14.5 million Canadians will receive the COVID-19 vaccine by June.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, in his address Friday, indicated the updated vaccine timeline indicates there is the capability to promise the large numbers of vaccinations:

  • A shipment of over 400,000 doses of COVID vaccine arrived in Canada on Wednesday
  • Next week another shipment of nearly 500,000 will be in the country
  • Canada is set to receive six million doses of both the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccine by the end of March
  • 84 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine will be delivered to Canada by September

“We have shared an updated vaccine delivery schedule with the provinces and territories so that they’re ready to roll out almost a million and a half doses over the next three weeks,” says Prime Minister Trudeau.

The Prime Minister also announced the extension of COVID-19 emergency benefits including:

  • A 12 week continuation of the Canada Recovery Benefit and the Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit (38 weeks total)
  • Employment Insurance will now be available for 50 weeks
  • The $500-per-week Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit will be offered for up to four weeks of missed work
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Pfizer Vaccine Shipment Temporarily Delayed: Anand

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The federal government says its shipment of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine has been delayed.

Pfizer is upgrading its European manufacturing capacity, leading to short-term delivery delays.

Canada’s Public Services and Procurement Minister Anita Anand says they don’t expect the hold up to have a long-term impact.

“Pfizer believes that by the end of March it will be able to catch up, so that we will be on track for the total committed doses for Q1,” said Anand.

The minister says production setbacks are expected due to the global supply chain being stretched so thin due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In planning its vaccine rollout, the federal government accounted for potential holdups such as the Pfizer delay.

“Canada has in place seven bilateral agreements with leading vaccine manufacturers and developers in order to ensure diversity and flexibility when it comes to vaccine supply chains,” Anand said.

She said the government is still on track to meet its goal of supplying enough vaccines for everyone who wants one by September 2021.

 

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COVID Vaccine Recommendations For People With Serious Allergies

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Health Canada says people who are allergic to ingredients in the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine should not receive it.

The warning comes after two people in the United Kingdom reported allergic reactions to the vaccine last week.

Officials say both had a history of severe allergic reactions and carried adrenaline auto-injectors. They were both treated and have recovered.

“In Canada, all vaccines carry a warning about the risk of serious allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, and immunization clinics are equipped to manage these rare events,” said Health Canada.

“Health Canada has reviewed the available evidence and has concluded that the current Product Monograph and available public health guidance are appropriate, and is not recommending any changes to the product’s use at this time.”

The vaccine’s ingredients are as follows:

Medicinal ingredient:

  • mRNA

Non-medicinal ingredients:

  • ALC-315 = ((4-hydroxybutyl)azanediyl)bis(hexane-6,1-diyl)bis(2-hexyldecanoate)
  • ALC-0159 = 2-[(polyethylene glycol)-2000]-N,N-ditetradecylacetamide
  • 1,2-Distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine
  • cholesterol
  • dibasic sodium phosphate dihydrate
  • monobasic potassium phosphate
  • potassium chloride
  • sodium chloride
  • sucrose
  • water for injection

Health Canada says immunization clinics are equipped to manage “rare” incidents of serious allergic reactions.

If you have experienced a serious allergic reaction to another vaccine, drug or food, the agency said you should talk to your health professional before receiving the COVID vaccine.

Anyone who has experienced a serious allergic reaction to another vaccine, drug or food should talk to their health professional before receiving the COVID vaccine.