Canada's supply of vaccines set to ramp up in coming weeks, despite cut in supply from India

Despite news that Canada won't be getting doses of theAstraZenecavaccinefrom India this month, federal officials say they expectCanada's COVID-19 vaccine supply to ramp up in the coming weeks as the first Johnson & Johnson doses arriveand Modernascalesupproduction.

Maj.-Gen. Dany Fortin, the military commander leading Canada's national vaccine distribution effort, said Canada will receive its initial shipment of 300,000 Johnson & Johnson doses next week and they'll be distributed to the provinces the following week.

"While weekly fluctuations of shipments may happen, overall the quantity of vaccines we can expect from manufacturers continues to grow," Fortin told reporters today.

The subsequent shipment of Johnson & Johnson is expected in June; no firm delivery date has been set yet.

Fortin confirmed last week's news that shipments of Modernasetfor next week would be cut from an anticipated 1.2 million doses to 650,000, but insistedthat shipments of that vaccine would accelerate"in short order."

"We have yet to know the details on Moderna for May, although they're working on scaling up so the adjustment was quite severe last week,"Fortin said. "They're working on scaling up and I think we will have very positive news in short order for Moderna."

Canadahas received 2,856,580doses of the Moderna vaccine to date.

Dramatically rising case counts in India have prompted that country to impose export restrictions, delayingdelivery ofthe one million doses of AstraZeneca Canada was expectingto receive by the end of this month.

"We will not see doses this month as the situation in India continues to be the way it is," said Fortin.

Canada has an agreement with the Serum Institute of India to receive two million doses of a vaccine that is biologically identical to the AstraZeneca vaccine but manufactured under different conditions under the name Covishield.

Watch:Many more vaccine doses coming in next two weeks: Fortin:

Many more vaccine doses coming in next two weeks: Fortin

3 years ago

Duration 1:36

Maj-Gen. Dany Fortin spoke with reporters on Thursday during the federal COVID vaccine delivery briefing.

Public Services and Procurement Canada's Joelle Paquette said that while those doses will not come this month, her department expects India to meet that commitment and is "tracking" deliveries to arrive by "the end of June."

"We are continuing to work with the Serum Institute on the delivery of its vaccine to Canada," she said.

AstraZenecadelivery dates unconfirmed

Paquette noted, however, that while she hopes that doses will arrive in June, the situation on the ground in India, and that country's export ban, could still affectthose delivery dates.

She also said the federal government is waiting to hearfrom COVAXaboutwhen Canada will get its next shipment of AstraZeneca from that source.

COVAX is a global vaccine-sharing initiative jointly coordinated by the World Health Organization, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations and Gavi, The Vaccine Alliance.

Watch: Fortin onAstraZeneca and Moderna vaccine shipment delays:

Fortin is asked about the availability of AstraZeneca, Moderna second doses

3 years ago

Duration 0:55

Canada's head of COVID-19 vaccine distribution Maj.-Gen. Dany Fortin responds to a question about when Canadians can expect to receive their second doses of the AstraZeneca and Moderna vaccines, given shipment delays.

The program pools funds from wealthier countries to buy vaccines for those countries and ensure low- and middle-income countries have access to vaccines as well.

Canada is slated to receive 1.9 million doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine from the program by the end of June. Canada has so far received 316,800 doses from COVAX.

Asfor the agreement Canada has with AstraZeneca to buy 20 million doses directly,Paquette said"we're looking at the next shipment in June, and working with the company at the moment on solidifying that particular delivery schedule."