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Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau tried to reassure Canadians that vaccine deliveries would resume in a few weeks and that the overall goal of having all consenting Canadians vaccinated by September would remain on track.
But it was Ontario Premier Doug Ford who bluntly expressed the frustration of many provincial leaders as Pfizer continues to cut its vaccine delivery schedule to Canada.
“We’ve got to be on these guys like a blanket, I’d be outside this guy’s house. Every time he moved I would say, ‘Where are our vaccines?’ Other people receive them, the European Union receives them, why not Canada? That’s my question to Pfizer, we need your support, ”Ford said at a press conference on Tuesday.
Canada’s supply of Pfizer / BioNTech vaccine comes from the European subdivision and not from neighboring manufacturing facilities in the United States, as the Trump administration has made it clear that the vaccines will not be exported.
“There’s a factory, a Pfizer factory, six hours in Kalamazoo, Michigan, with the Americans,” Ford said. “My American friends are helping us, we need help once more like we did with the EPP. You have a new president, no more excuses, we need your support, and we look forward to it. your support and it’s a direct message to President (Joe) Biden, ‘help your neighbor.’ ”
Ford has pleaded directly with President-elect Joe Biden for a million vaccines for Canada.
Biden’s incoming administration is unlikely to release vaccine doses for short-term export, as Biden transition officials have said they are unsure of the current vaccine supply available. in the USA.
Canadian government officials made it clear on Tuesday that the lack of deliveries from Pfizer would result in a “significant reduction” in vaccinations in the coming weeks.
“There will be a huge impact in all provinces,” said Major General Dany Fortin, the Canadian commander in charge of the vaccine deployment, adding that “the overall impact over the next month is in the range of allocation.”
The pandemic curve in Canada is starting to show signs of pulling back after weeks of lockdown. But hospitalizations remain high, and officials say the overall death toll in this second wave could possibly be more severe than the first.
“We are all helping to reduce the burden on the healthcare system, supporting our healthcare workforce in the difficult task of planning and implementing mass vaccine deployment and giving vaccines a longer trail to start working as they grow. that access is expanding to reach all Canadians, ”Dr. Theresa Tam, Canada’s chief public health officer, said at a press conference Tuesday.
Tam added that on average, around 140 virus-related deaths are reported in Canada every day.
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