BREAKING: Canada becomes second country to approve Pfizer’s coronavirus vaccine a week after the UK gave the shot the greenlight – but the US FDA won’t authorize it for at least another day
- On Wednesday, Health Canada approved the coronavirus vaccine made by Pfizer Inc and its German partner BioNTech SE
- The government is set to receive 249,000 doses this month and four million doses by March 2021
- It comes one day after the UK began administering Pfizer’s jab and one day before the US FDA advisory committee is set to meet
Canada has become the second country in the world to approve Pfizer Inc’s coronavirus vaccine.
On Wednesday, the country’s health regulator, Health Canada, posted on its website that it had authorized the jab.
Canada is set to receive up to 249,000 doses this month and four million doses by March 2021.
The government has purchased 20 million doses of Pfizer’s vaccine, developed with its German partner BioNTech SE, which requires people to receive two doses each, and it has the option to buy 56 million more.
Health Canada is reviewing three other vaccine candidates, including one from Moderna.
It comes just one day after the UK began administering the inoculation to senior citizens and one day before the advisory committee of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is set to meet on whether or not to approve the jab.
On Wednesday, Health Canada approved the coronavirus vaccine made by Pfizer Inc and its German partner BioNTech SE. Pictured: Pfizer headquarters in New York City
This story is breaking and will be updated.