Frustration visibly spilled over among some Canadian leaders on Tuesday when Pfizer told Canada that it would not receive any doses of coronavirus vaccine next week due to continued manufacturing disruptions at its Belgian facility.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tried to reassure Canadians that vaccine deliveries would pick up again in a few weeks and that the overall goal, for every Canadian willing to get vaccinated to be vaccinated by September, would remain in good stead. way.
But it was Ontario Premier Doug Ford who bluntly expressed the frustration of many provincial leaders as Pfizer continues to cut its vaccine delivery schedule to Canada.
“We have to be on these guys like a blanket, I’d be outside that guy’s house. Every time he moved, I’d say, ‘Where are our vaccines?’ Other people are receiving them, the European Union is receiving them, why not Canada? That’s my question for Pfizer, we need your support, “Ford said during a press conference Tuesday.
The Canadian supply of the Pfizer / BioNTech vaccine comes from European allocation and not from nearby manufacturing facilities in the US, as the Trump administration made it clear that the vaccines would not be exported.
“There’s a plant, a Pfizer plant, six hours away, in Kalamazoo, Michigan, with the Americans,” Ford said. “My American friends, help us, we need help once again as we did with the PPE. They have a new president, no more excuses, we need your support, and we look forward to your support and that is a direct message to President (Joe) Biden: ‘help your neighbor.
Ford made a direct request to President-elect Joe Biden for one million vaccines for Canada.
The incoming Biden administration is unlikely to release doses of vaccines for export in the short term, as Biden transition officials have stated that they are unsure of the current supply of vaccines available in the US.
Canadian government officials made clear Tuesday that Pfizer’s shortfall in deliveries would result in a “major reduction” in vaccines in the coming weeks.