QUESTION PERIOD — Health
COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout
May 4, 2021
Honourable senators, my question is for the government leader in the Senate.
Leader, during Question Period on Friday, I raised the subject of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines that had just been delivered to Canada. It was our first shipment of this vaccine, although it had been approved for use almost two months earlier. Late that same afternoon, Health Canada revealed it had suspended the distribution of Johnson & Johnson due to quality control concerns.
Leader, it’s now Tuesday, and we still don’t know when or if these vaccines will be released to the provinces. Over 34,000 doses of Johnson & Johnson were intended to be used in two hotspots in Alberta: Banff and Fort McMurray.
Leader, what is happening with the Johnson & Johnson vaccine? When will Health Canada’s review be completed?
Thank you for the question, senator.
With regard to Johnson & Johnson, Health Canada has determined that they need to investigate the safety of this particular vaccine, not in terms of its design but in terms of its manufacturing by virtue of the facility from which it originated. This is an example of our system — in this case, Health Canada — doing what it needs to be doing and should be doing to protect the health and safety of Canadians.
Many parts of the country are experiencing terrible situations — notably Alberta — and it’s very regrettable that these particular vaccines have been delayed, but it’s better to be safe than sorry.
In that regard, the government is pleased that it continues to receive more shipments of other vaccines. Indeed, it has distributed approximately 15 million doses already to the provinces, with many millions more to come.
I’m not sure whether I missed it in that answer, but I asked when Health Canada’s review will be completed. I really didn’t get an answer to that.
Leader, in a press release from April 25, Health Canada stated that the Johnson & Johnson vaccines were not coming from the Emergent facility in Baltimore, which ruined 15 million doses of this vaccine back in March through cross-contamination. Five days later, a different press release from Health Canada stated that a drug substance used in the 300,000 doses we received last week was in fact produced in this facility, leader. Johnson & Johnson was then pulled from distribution to the provinces.
Why didn’t Health Canada know about this just a few days before Johnson & Johnson arrived in Canada? How do you think this whole situation impacts vaccine hesitancy amongst Canadians?
Thank you for the question. Vaccine hesitancy is a real problem, and let’s acknowledge that it’s a problem in parts of Canada amongst segments of the population and elsewhere in the world. No one can deny that the problems experienced, whether it’s AstraZeneca or this most recent one, could have an impact on those who are skeptical and worried, as one should be worried about their health and the health of those around them.
That said, this is an example of Health Canada acting responsibly and quickly when it became aware of information to make sure the health of Canadians is protected.
I’m not able to give you a date. You’re quite right, you didn’t hear an answer to your first question, senator. That’s because Health Canada is an independent agency that is doing its due diligence and its work, and when that work is completed and if it is satisfied that the vaccine is safe for administration, it will say so and the vaccine will be released. If not, then Canadians will continue to benefit from the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines that are coming with increasing frequency.
