The federal government is touting a donation of millions of COVID-19 vaccine shots to help boost the rate of vaccination around the world.
International Development Minister Karina Gould says Canada is giving 17.7-million AstraZeneca doses to COVAX, which will send them to developing countries.
When questioned on the choice to send AstraZeneca, she says many countries have stuck with the shots even though Canadian provinces have advised against using it.
“So now, many countries who have distributed and gotten those shots in arms are looking for their second dose of AstraZeneca, and there is a very big demand for it,” she says, adding they will be “very welcome” at the COVAX facility
Gould says nearly every area of the developing world is seeing an increase in COVID-19.
“They are looking to get as many effective, approved vaccines as possible to administer to deal with this new wave of COVID-19,” she points out. “AstraZeneca is approved by Health Canada, it’s approved by the WHO, and countries have a big appetite for it.”
Procurement Minister Anita Anand says the deliveries will happen “within the coming weeks” but officials have not confirmed which countries will receive the vaccines.
Canada is also working with Unicef Canada to match up to $10-million in donations to Unicef’s vaccination fundraiser through the #GiveAVax campaign.
Unicef Canada CEO David Morley says a benefit of AstraZeneca is it’s easier to transport to developing countries, which may not have the “cold chain” of facilities needed to keep Pfizer and Moderna doses at the proper temperature.
The donation is on top of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s pledge of 100-million doses, which was announced in July.
