50,000 Vaccine shipments delayed as cases decrease

by Zahraa Al-Khalidi

New cases of COVID-19 have dropped below 2000 for most of the past week in Ontario as Moderna joins Pfizer in cutting back on vaccine deliveries to Canada as of next week.

The Ministry of Health reported 1,969 new cases confirmed over the last 24 hours as well as another 58 deaths. The seven day average is now 1,889. 

With the number of cases finally decreasing, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Canada’s next vaccine shipment from Moderna will ship only three-quarters of the expected supply.

This delay will cut Canada’s next shipment by more 50,000 doses.

Milena Kidane is a front line nurse for Toronto North York General Hospital, who took the Pfizer vaccine, is very optimistic on the recent news.

“I feel like the government is handling to the best of their ability considering they have limited shipments coming from the vaccine companies” Said Kidane

“but I do hope the rollout of the vaccine does happen as efficiently and quickly as possible so that everyone can be vaccinated as soon as possible.”

Patricia Gauthier, a manager for Moderna Canada, said in a written statement that the delay is related to producing the “drug substance” component that’s currently located in Switzerland.

Gauthier said the company will ship two millions doses ordered by the end of March.  Canada bought approximately 40 million doses from Moderna, with most of them to arrive between April 1 and Sept. 30.

“Although this lockdown has had heavy consequences on people’s mental and physical health, we just really all need to stick together for this final stretch and make these lockdowns worth it” said Kidane “I believe that the government has enforced very reasonable and logical restrictions in order to stop the spread of this virus and I know the health and safety of the people in this country is the top priority.”

Canada has contracts with seven COVID-19 vaccine-makers but has never once published any details with any prices or delivery times. Conservative Leader Erin O’Toole said the government needs to be more clear about its vaccine contracts.