Thursday, February 12, 2026
ADVT 
National

Ottawa budgets $5B to buy COVID-19 pharmaceuticals

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 03 Mar, 2021 07:15 PM
  • Ottawa budgets $5B to buy COVID-19 pharmaceuticals

The Public Health Agency of Canada expects to spend up to $5 billion on vaccines and other COVID-19 treatments.

Procurement Minister Anita Anand previously said vaccines alone would cost at least $1 billion but the specific contract costs are protected by confidentiality clauses with drug makers.

Federal budget documents show $5.3 billion was approved in December for COVID-19 vaccines and treatments, including the purchase of doses, research and development.

Last month $5 billion of that was shifted from the current fiscal year into 2021-22 because most of the vaccine doses Canada is buying aren't being delivered until after March 31, which is when the federal fiscal year ends.

Canada is guaranteed to buy more than 240 million doses of seven different vaccines if all are approved, with only 6.5 million doses expected before the end of March.

The Public Health Agency has not said specifically how much of the $5 billion is going to vaccines versus other COVID-19 medications.

MORE National ARTICLES

B.C. to make hydro cheaper for 'clean' industries

B.C. to make hydro cheaper for 'clean' industries
The province says existing customers that install new equipment that uses electricity rather than fossil fuels may also be eligible.

B.C. to make hydro cheaper for 'clean' industries

Lottery CEO 'blown away' by organized crime threat

Lottery CEO 'blown away' by organized crime threat
Jim Lightbody told the public inquiry into money laundering that the information he received from the RCMP was a "pivotal moment" that left him "blown away."

Lottery CEO 'blown away' by organized crime threat

Two males in Dodge pickup impersonating police officers: Langley RCMP

Two males in Dodge pickup impersonating police officers: Langley RCMP
The vehicle stopped for police on 222nd Street. Both occupants were arrested and the alternating blue / red light was found on the front window of the truck.

Two males in Dodge pickup impersonating police officers: Langley RCMP

Avalanche warning for slopes on B.C.'s South Coast

Avalanche warning for slopes on B.C.'s South Coast
The forecaster says the snowpack in the area is highly unusual, with a buried weak layer not normally found in the warmer climate.

Avalanche warning for slopes on B.C.'s South Coast

Court OKs abuse of process argument for killers

Court OKs abuse of process argument for killers
The British Columbia Court of Appeal has upheld the first-degree murder verdicts for Matthew Johnston and Cody Haevischer in the so-called Surrey Six killings in October 2007.

Court OKs abuse of process argument for killers

Higher dose count factored into Pfizer's shipments

Higher dose count factored into Pfizer's shipments
Canada has some existing supply of the special syringes needed to do so and two million of a recent order for 37.5 million of them are to arrive in Canada starting Feb. 4.

Higher dose count factored into Pfizer's shipments