Close X
Monday, November 11, 2024
ADVT 
National

Canada signs agreement with AZ on COVID treatment

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 23 Feb, 2022 03:23 PM
  • Canada signs agreement with AZ on COVID treatment

OTTAWA - The Canadian government has signed an agreement with pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca to procure 100,000 doses of a COVID-19 antibody therapy that's still under review by Health Canada.

A release from Public Services and Procurement Canada says the antibody therapy, called Evusheld, is a pre-exposure preventative for COVID-19.

Evusheld is under review by Health Canada for use in specific high-risk patient populations, such as people who are immunocompromised.

The U.S.-based Food and Drug Administration issued an emergency use authorization for the product in December.

The FDA says the drug is only authorized for people who are not currently infected with COVID-19 and who are either moderately to severely immunocompromised or have a history of severe adverse reactions to a COVID-19 vaccine.

The FDA says one dose of Evusheld, given as two separate intramuscular injections, "may be effective for pre-exposure prevention for six months."

Health Canada started the authorization process for Evusheld in November after receiving data from AstraZeneca. The agency says it reviews submissions through an independent process and authorizes products based on "scientific rigour and medical evidence."

Public Services and Procurement Canada says initial deliveries of Evusheld would be expected within a month of authorization.

The Public Health Agency of Canada would then coordinate distribution and delivery with provinces and territories.

Filomena Tassi, Canada's Minister of Public Services and Procurement, said in a release Wednesday that vaccines continue to be "the most important tool we have against severe outcomes from COVID-19."

"However, while vaccines provide excellent protection, people who are immunocompromised may need additional protection against COVID-19," she said.

"That is why our government continues to grow its suite of treatments and preventative therapies to protect the health of everyone who lives in Canada."

 

MORE National ARTICLES

Experts say not to rush nixing vaccine passports

Experts say not to rush nixing vaccine passports
Prevalence of cases among both vaccinated and unvaccinated Canadians has led to calls to nix the vaccine passport system by some who question whether the shots make a difference in transmission.

Experts say not to rush nixing vaccine passports

Feds to press ahead with anti-hate bill: minister

Feds to press ahead with anti-hate bill: minister
The bill will include the creation of a peace bond to prevent people from continuing to make racist comments or from carrying out hateful threats. The court order would be designed to prevent a hate crime occurring and would include penalties if it is breached, including up to four years imprisonment.

Feds to press ahead with anti-hate bill: minister

Trucker border protest in Alberta nearing one week

Trucker border protest in Alberta nearing one week
Demonstrators began parking their trucks and other vehicles last Saturday near the crossing at Coutts, Alta., in solidarity with similar events in Ottawa and other locations to protest COVID-19 vaccine mandates and broader public health measures.    

Trucker border protest in Alberta nearing one week

Loblaw recalling soda due to glass risk

Loblaw recalling soda due to glass risk
The soda was sold nationally in 200 millilitre containers with a best before date of Sep. 24, 2023. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency says the recall was triggered by a consumer complaint.

Loblaw recalling soda due to glass risk

Economy lost 200,000 jobs in January

Economy lost 200,000 jobs in January
The decrease marked the largest drop since January 2021, when the economy shed 207,800 jobs, Statistics Canada said Friday. The job losses also pushed the unemployment rate to 6.5 per cent in January compared with 6.0 per cent in December

Economy lost 200,000 jobs in January

Court to hear challenge over B.C. Liberal vote

Court to hear challenge over B.C. Liberal vote
Vikram Bajwa wants the court to force the party to provide details of its audit of thousands of new memberships signed up during the campaign. His petition also asks that the party be ordered to reveal its conclusions on whether any co-ordinated voter fraud took place in the leadership race.

Court to hear challenge over B.C. Liberal vote