The federal government is looking to the future in the COVID-19 pandemic.
Minister of Public Services and Procurement Anita Anand says they are preparing for when a vaccine is found.
“While researchers around the world are working quickly, we have signed a contract with Becton Dickinson Canada for 37 million syringes. We are also continuing to work to procure other supplies needed for eventual mass vaccinations on a systemic level. We are making sure that when a viable vaccine is discovered, Canada is ready.”
Anand adds, “The delivery schedule is still being determined, but I will say we are planning ahead.”
Meantime, Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Theresa Tam says there is no requirement or policy from the perspective of the federal government to make these vaccines mandatory at this point.
“It is not something we’ve provided even in, for example, the last pandemic in 2009. We do account for the maximum number of Canadians who wish to be vaccinated,” Dr. Tam says.
She adds the National Advisory Committee on Immunization will be looking at the framework for prioritizing the vaccine to Canadians.
