Canada buys 65M Pfizer booster shots for protection against variants

Canada has secured a contract with vaccine manufacturer Pfizer to buy millions of booster shots in the next two years for continuing protection against COVID-19.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the purchase at a news conference Friday.

Canada will receive 65 million doses of Pfizer’s COVID-19 for 2022 and 2023, with an option to add 120 million more doses through 2024 if desired.

A minimum of 35 million doses will arrive in 2022, with an option for 30 million more. In 2023, another 30 million doses are guaranteed with an option to add 30 million more.

The agreement also lets Canada choose future vaccine formulations from Pfizer which could protect against variants or be specifically developed for children.

These new doses are in addition to the 48 million of Pfizer’s first COVID-19 vaccine that will arrive in Canada by the end of September 2021.

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Trudeau also congratulated Quebec company Medicago for submitting its vaccine candidate for Health Canada for approval. It’s the first Canadian-made COVID-19 vaccine to be vetted by health Canada so far.

Trudeau and wife Sophie Gregoire-Trudeau will receive their first dose of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine at a pharmacy Friday afternoon now that people age 40 and up are eligible to be vaccinated in Ontario.

“I’m excited and confident about getting my vaccine today,” he said.