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TORONTO – Hours after Ontario’s health minister announced that the province expects to receive more than two million COVID-19 vaccines in the next few months, the federal government says it’s not sure where those numbers come from.
Liberal MP and Health Minister’s Parliamentary Secretary Darren Fisher exposed the apparent disconnect between the feds and the provincial government during an interview with Evan Solomon at CTV’s Power Play Wednesday.
“I’m not aware of where he got his numbers,” he said. “I’m not sure what the provinces have for the possible numbers that could arise depending on which contract produces a successful, Health Canada-approved vaccine.”
News of Christine Elliott’s announcement has made its way to question the period in Ottawa with MPs pressing Health Minister Patty Hajdu for confirmation on the specifics of the launch, which she couldn’t do.
“In terms of distribution, we will work with provinces and territories as we have with other things like personal protective equipment, rapid tests, a report or a sharing approach that will work to ensure that all Canadians have access to vital and safe vaccines,” she said.
According to Elliott, the Ontario government expects to receive approximately 1.6 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine and 800,000 doses of the Moderna vaccine between January and March 2021.
The government of Canada has already signed agreements with Pfizer for a minimum of 20 million doses of its vaccine candidate and 56 million doses from Moderna, none of which has been approved by Health Canada.
On Wednesday, Pfizer said Phase 3 of its trial vaccine was found to be 95% effective with officials saying they would seek authorization for emergency use from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in the coming days. .
Likewise, Moderna said preliminary analysis suggests their vaccine is 94.5% effective and is also nearing the point where it can be submitted to the USFDA for emergency use authorization.
Recipients of both vaccines will be required to take two doses 21 days apart, so initial shipments are likely to be enough only to protect about 1.2 million Ontarians.
In a statement to CTV News Toronto, an Ontario Ministry of Health spokesman said Elliott’s comments were based on “first conversations with the federal government and used a per capita model.”
“While there are still months to a vaccine, there is light at the end of the tunnel,” the spokesperson said in an email.
With CP24’s Chris Fox files.
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