In preparation for future pandemic and seasonal flu seasons, the federal government announced Friday that it has signed a new agreement with GlaxoSmithKline for flu vaccines.
In preparation for future pandemic and seasonal flu seasons, the federal government announced Friday that it has signed a new agreement with GlaxoSmithKline for flu vaccines.
Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos announced a four-year pact to produce and deliver pandemic flu vaccines to Canadians, with five options a year to follow.
Canada has an agreement with GlaxoSmithKline for flu vaccines since 2001. The new agreement, which went into effect on July 1, was announced at GSK Canada in Quebec City, which gives employs 900 people.
Duclos said the agreement includes an option to purchase 80 million doses of flu vaccine if a pandemic occurs and a minimum of four million doses a year to use in publicly funded vaccination programs.
He said that by doing business with the only self-sufficient Canadian pandemic flu vaccine supplier in the country, Canada is protecting itself from possible obstacles.
“By using domestic production here in Canada, we can ensure that Canada’s supply is not jeopardized by border closures, trade disruptions, transportation problems or shipping delays,” Duclos said. Due to confidentiality, Duclos said he could not discuss the dollar figures attached to the contract.
Historically, influenza pandemics have occurred every 11 to 40 years, the most recent being the H1N1 pandemic in 2009.
The first deliveries of the flu vaccine for 2022 are scheduled for September and October.
Duclos said if there is one lesson to be learned from the COVID-19 pandemic, it is the critical importance of vaccination.
He took advantage of Friday’s announcement to emphasize the importance of getting a COVID-19 vaccine booster vaccine. Canada had a large absorption of the first and second dose, but is behind all other G7 countries, with the exception of the United States, when it comes to a third dose.
Duclos said the updated vaccination reduces the risk of infection, transmission, hospitalization and long-term COVID.
“According to some estimates, vaccination has saved about 20 million lives worldwide by 2021,” Duclos said.
He also congratulated Health Canada on Thursday on approving the Modern vaccine for children aged six months to five years and encouraged parents to vaccinate their young children.
He tried to reassure parents who have concerns, noting that studies on the vaccine are “very solid” and that experts believe it is very safe and effective in reducing the risk of serious illness.
This report from The Canadian Press was first published on July 15, 2022.
– This story was produced with the financial assistance of Meta and the Canadian Press News Fellowship.
Frédéric Lacroix-Couture, The Canadian Press