OTTAWA -- The federal government will donate 17.7 million COVID-19 vaccines to the global vaccine-sharing network COVAX and match Canadians' donations to UNICEF’s vaccination fundraising campaign to bolster international supply.
International Development Minister Karina Gould and Procurement Minister Anita Anand announced on Monday that the doses would come from Canada’s procured batch of AstraZeneca vaccines and would be managed by COVAX’s dose-sharing mechanism.
The government will match up to a maximum of $10 million donated to the campaign "Give a Vax," which will run until Sept. 6.
At the G7 summit in June, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau committed to sharing 100 million vaccines with developing nations, of which 13 million would be donated as actual doses and the rest would come in the form of funding to global initiatives, including COVAX.
Monday’s announcement brings Canada’s contribution of doses shared to more than 30 million.
“They are excess to the needs here in Canada. We have been, throughout the process, analyzing and assessing between the Public Health Agency of Canada, Public Services and Procurement Canada and Global Affairs Canada to ensure that if we are at a point where there are doses that are ready, that have been manufactured and are ready to go, but we don’t need them here in Canada, that we would be able to pivot them to be donated," said Gould.
Canada has come under fire for tapping into the COVAX supply to access AstraZeneca vaccines, though the government has taken the position that Canada was using the program as designed, and noted it’s one of the leading donors to the effort.
The government said the AstraZeneca shots will start flowing to recipient countries in the coming weeks.
President and CEO of UNICEF Canada David Morley, who was also at the press conference, said the announcement ensures no population is left behind in the global fight against the pandemic.
“As Canadians we’ve witnessed firsthand the devastating effect the pandemic has had on our families, our friends, our communities, our children. These effects have no borders and while thing are looking better here, children and families continue to feel the harsh impact of the global health crisis. The reality is this, the pandemic will not end for anyone until it ends for everyone,†he said.
Asked why Canada is donating only AstraZeneca – a vaccine that has use restrictions across the country over rare instances of blood clots after inoculation – Anand said provinces and territories have indicated that they do not need it.
“The decision to donate was made after we heard from provinces and territories that the demands for AstraZeneca vaccines within their jurisdictions had been met,†she said
Gould added that AstraZeneca, while viewed as the least preferred vaccine by Canada’s National Advisory Committee on Immunization, is in high demand internationally.
“Many countries who have distributed and gotten those shots in arms are looking for their second dose of AstraZeneca,†she said. “They will be very welcome by the COVAX facility as well as by the countries that are receiving those doses.â€
The vaccine manufacturer welcomed the news on Monday, noting that it’s coming at a critical time as the Delta variant rapidly spreads.
“AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine continues to have a major global impact against COVID-19 disease and is an important tool in overcoming the pandemic around the world. Recent clinical and real-world evidence data also demonstrate its effectiveness against the new variants, including the rapidly transmissible Delta variant,†a statement reads.
“AstraZeneca was the first manufacturer to join the COVAX partnership and, as of the end of June 2021, our vaccine provided approximately 90% of COVAX supply, with more than two-thirds going to low- and middle-income countries.â€
Canada is expected to receive 68 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine before the end of July.
Anand reinforced that the government has procured enough supply for all Canadians to be vaccinated twice and to receive an additional booster shot should Health Canada recommend it in the future.
“We are very well placed with our current deliveries to ensure that all Canadians have access to vaccines as well as any boosters that may be required,†she said.
With a file from Â鶹´«Ã½â€™ Rachel Aiello.
