Saturday, April 4, 2026
ADVT 
National

Pfizer first planned February rollout in Canada

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 08 Mar, 2021 06:16 PM
  • Pfizer first planned February rollout in Canada

The president of Pfizer Canada says when the company signed a purchase agreement last August it didn't expect its vaccine to get approved here until February.

Cole Pinnow also told the House of Commons health committee today that changes to the dosing schedule and conflicting advice could make more people vaccine hesitant.

On Aug. 1, Canada signed an agreement with Pfizer to buy at least 20 million doses, with the option to buy 56 million more, and approval was not expected until early 2021.

Health Canada ended up approving the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine in December 2020.

Pinnow told the committee it was only in November that the federal government and Pfizer realized the approval could be imminent and began moving quickly to deliver doses to Canada months earlier than planned.

He also says the National Advisory Committee on Immunization did not contact Pfizer before it recommended changing delaying the second dose from three weeks to four months after the first shot.

MORE National ARTICLES

Budget 2021 Pairs Fiscal Responsibility with Strong Community Investment

Budget 2021 Pairs Fiscal Responsibility with Strong Community Investment
Despite the challenges that have been brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, Surrey’s Budget 2021 is balanced in accordance with the Local Government Act and the Community Charter.

Budget 2021 Pairs Fiscal Responsibility with Strong Community Investment

B.C. police put down pit bulls after farm attack

B.C. police put down pit bulls after farm attack
Cpl. Madonna Saunderson says police were called Sunday morning after receiving a report that dangerous dogs were attacking livestock at the farm.

B.C. police put down pit bulls after farm attack

Wind and snowfall warnings up for B.C.

Wind and snowfall warnings up for B.C.
Wind warnings have been issued for Vancouver Island, the Fraser Valley, Howe Sound, Metro Vancouver, the Sunshine Coast and the Southern Gulf Islands.

Wind and snowfall warnings up for B.C.

Beijing blasts Rae over 'genocide' allegations

Beijing blasts Rae over 'genocide' allegations
During a news conference in Beijing Monday, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian described Bob Rae's comments as "ridiculous," adding that Canada itself better fits the description of having perpetrated a genocide.

Beijing blasts Rae over 'genocide' allegations

Vancouver Police arrests suspect in Saturday night homicide

Vancouver Police arrests suspect in Saturday night homicide
The murder happened at about 9 p.m. near East 57th Avenue and Prince Edward Street. The victim, 34-year-old Damien Franklin Leung, was rushed to hospital but later died.

Vancouver Police arrests suspect in Saturday night homicide

Liberals agree to back off delay tactics on WE

Liberals agree to back off delay tactics on WE
Government House leader Pablo Rodriguez says his party has agreed to send unredacted documents linked to the controversy to the parliamentary law clerk, who will then decide what information needs to be blacked out to protect personal privacy.

Liberals agree to back off delay tactics on WE