Canada expects to start receiving Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines next month
Posted March 30, 2021 1:47 pm.
Last Updated March 30, 2021 1:51 pm.
Canada is expecting its first shipment of Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine by the end of next month, according to Procurement Minister Anita Anand.
“Our deliveries of J&J will be beginning at the end of April,” she said during a press conference on Tuesday.
However Anand added that final details are still being worked out and she cannot say just how many doses will arrive in Canada in the first delivery.
The Johnson & Johnson vaccine could be a game changer in the country’s battle against COVID-19, as it only requires a single dose, unlike Pfizer, Moderna and AstraZeneca which each require a second dose to boost immunity.
This latest vaccine news comes at a time of increased concerns around the AstraZeneca shot after the NACI advised provinces to suspended the use of the vaccine for anyone under the age of 55 as a precautionary measure, pending further investigation.
The recommendation came after more reports that patients in Europe developed blood clots following vaccination.
Health Canada says it has not received any reports of blood clots in Canada to date.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau suggested new restrictions will not have a major impact on our overall vaccination efforts because the country has a diverse vaccine portfolio that is heavily weighted on Pfizer and Moderna.
Trudeau announced on Tuesday thatPfizer is going to send five million more vaccine doses to Canada in June than it previously planned, and AstraZeneca will ship 4.4 million doses by the end of June.
With files from The Canadian Press
