Federal officials to hold technical briefing on Canada's COVID-19 vaccine rollout
Federal health officials will hold a technical briefing in Ottawa on Wednesday on the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines across Canada.
On Monday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that Canada would be receiving up to 249,000 doses of Pfizer’s vaccine candidate this month.
These initial doses, which Trudeau said are expected to be delivered next week, are part of the 76 million Canada is set to receive from Pfizer.
At this time, the vaccine is still pending Health Canada approval.
Last week, the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) identified four key groups that should receive early immunization against COVID-19.
NACI recommends that initial doses of an authorized vaccine go to residents and staff of congregate living settings that provide care for seniors, as well as adults ages 70 and up, starting with those over the age of 80.
Healthcare workers and personal support workers whose profession involves direct contact with patients and adults in Indigenous communities have also been earmarked for early vaccination.
Canadian health officials also noted that they will procure up to 194 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines, with the option to purchase an additional 220 million. The first three million will be available in the first quarter of 2021.
Wednesday’s technical briefing will be held at 1 pm ET/ 10 am PT.
To date, Canada has seen 429,035 cases of COVID-19 and 12,867 deaths.
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