Canada strikes more deals for COVID-19 vaccine, but may have to wait in line behind other nations - National Post

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“Concluding these contracts is not simply a matter of distributing a standard-form contract and having vaccine suppliers agree to our preferred terms,” said Anand. “The environment is intense, the demand is high and each negotiation is unique.”

We have been the slowest Western country in the world to arrange a vaccine supply

Ottawa’s first attempt to secure a leading vaccine candidate quietly collapsed last week, the government scrapping its arrangement with China’s CanSino after Chinese authorities failed to provide samples for use in a planned trial here.

It has also invested heavily in Canadian, or Canadian-connected vaccine projects, including Quebec’s Medicago, Massachusetts-based VBI, and the University of Saskatchewan’s VIDO-InterVac. Those vaccines, though, are at relatively early stages, either preparing for or just starting phase-1 trials.

But in early August, the government said it had reached agreements to obtain vaccine from Pfizer and Moderna, two of about a half dozen worldwide that are already in final, phase-3 trials, which determine if a vaccine actually works.

The government filled in some details Monday, revealing it had obtained promises of a guaranteed six million doses from Moderna, with an option for 50 million more, and a guaranteed 20 million from Pfizer.

Pfizer, working with German company BioNTech, has said it could be ready to deliver vaccine as early as this fall, assuming successful trials and regulatory approval. But at least three other countries, the U.K., U.S. and Japan, pre-ordered a combined 750 million doses earlier, according to Pfizer news releases.

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2020-09-01 05:24:24Z
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