Canada Moderna Vaccine Agreement: What You Need to Know
As COVID-19 continues to ravage the world, vaccines have become the beacon of hope for countries struggling with the pandemic. Canada is no exception, and the government has been working overtime to secure vaccine deals with various pharmaceutical companies. One of the recent agreements Canada has made is with Moderna, a Massachusetts-based biotechnology company that has developed a vaccine that has shown promising results in clinical trials. In this article, we`ll delve a little deeper into the Canada Moderna vaccine agreement and what it entails.
Firstly, it`s worth noting that Moderna`s vaccine is an mRNA vaccine, like Pfizer`s. This means that instead of using a weakened or inactivated virus to trigger an immune response, it uses a piece of genetic material called mRNA. The mRNA tells cells in the body to produce proteins that resemble those on the surface of the coronavirus. This, in turn, triggers an immune response that can protect against the actual virus.
The Canada Moderna vaccine agreement was signed on August 5th, 2020, and is worth $564 million. According to the agreement, Canada will receive up to 56 million doses of Moderna`s vaccine, which is enough to vaccinate 28 million Canadians. This is assuming that two doses are required per person, which is the case with most COVID-19 vaccines currently in development.
The agreement also stipulates that Moderna will supply Canada with an initial batch of 20 million doses in 2021, with subsequent deliveries expected in 2022. The vaccine will be produced at Moderna`s facilities in the United States and Europe, and will be shipped to Canada once it has been approved by Health Canada.
One of the advantages of Moderna`s mRNA vaccine is that it does not require ultra-cold storage like Pfizer`s vaccine. This makes it easier to distribute and administer, particularly to remote and rural areas that may not have the infrastructure to store vaccines at very low temperatures.
Another advantage of the Canada Moderna vaccine agreement is that it diversifies Canada`s vaccine portfolio. This means that Canada will have access to multiple vaccines, which will reduce the risk of supply shortages or delays that could hamper the country`s vaccination efforts.
In conclusion, the Canada Moderna vaccine agreement is a significant step in Canada`s fight against COVID-19. It provides Canada with access to another promising vaccine candidate, and diversifies the country`s vaccine portfolio. As the world waits for vaccines to become available, it`s important to remember that the fight against COVID-19 is far from over. We must continue to follow public health guidelines and do our part to slow the spread of the virus.