Close X
Monday, November 11, 2024
ADVT 
National

Canada urges WHO to approve Medicago vaccine

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 21 Mar, 2022 12:41 PM
  • Canada urges WHO to approve Medicago vaccine

OTTAWA - International Development Minister Harjit Sajjan says he wants the World Health Organization to greenlight Medicago's COVID-19 shot so it can be donated and used by the COVAX vaccine-sharing alliance.

But he says Canada's ability to get more doses out the door to lower-income countries depends mostly on getting reassurance they can and will be used when they are sent.

Canada is promising to donate at least 200 million doses by the end of the year but only 15 million have been delivered so far.

Fewer than two million doses were shipped out this year and Sajjan says more can go as soon as recipient countries indicate they're ready for them.

On paper, Canada should have close to 100 million more doses available for donation that were purchased for Canadians that cannot be used here.

But half are the Novavax vaccine Canada has yet to confirm will be donated, and 20 million come from Medicago, which can only be donated if WHO agrees to approve that vaccine despite the company's ties to big tobacco.

MORE National ARTICLES

Lululemon founder starting new venture to find cure for type of muscular dystrophy

Lululemon founder starting new venture to find cure for type of muscular dystrophy
Chip Wilson was diagnosed with facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy when he was 32, saying it has contributed to his muscle loss and he expects to not be able to walk without help in eight years. He says the funding will go toward finding a cure for the disorder by the end of 2027.

Lululemon founder starting new venture to find cure for type of muscular dystrophy

Trudeau, NATO stage rebuke of Russia in Latvia

Trudeau, NATO stage rebuke of Russia in Latvia
The prime minister promised Baltic leaders on a whirlwind trip to Latvia that Canada will stand with them to fight Russia's military aggression against Ukraine and its cyberattacks on their countries.

Trudeau, NATO stage rebuke of Russia in Latvia

Feds fine passengers on Sunwing party flight

Feds fine passengers on Sunwing party flight
A half-dozen passengers who were not fully vaccinated when they boarded have now received penalties that could reach a maximum of $5,000 each, Transport Canada said. Under COVID-19 rules, all passengers must be fully vaccinated to board a flight departing the country.

Feds fine passengers on Sunwing party flight

B.C. promises blanket internet coverage by 2027

B.C. promises blanket internet coverage by 2027
In a news release, the province says the plan means many First Nations communities will have high-speed internet access for the first time. B.C. is promising that every home and community will have the service by 2027, which was also promised in the budget announced last month. 

B.C. promises blanket internet coverage by 2027

B.C. adds conditions for Trans Mountain expansion

B.C. adds conditions for Trans Mountain expansion
The expansion is set to nearly triple the capacity of the existing 1,150-kilometre pipeline that carries 300,000 barrels per day of petroleum products from Alberta to B.C., which will significantly increase the number of tankers carrying oil for export.

B.C. adds conditions for Trans Mountain expansion

B.C. shifts vaccination order for health workers

B.C. shifts vaccination order for health workers
The new order differs from last month's announcement when provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said all regulated health professionals vaccinated with one dose before March 24 could continue to work only if they received a second dose within 35 days.

B.C. shifts vaccination order for health workers