Canada becomes second country to approve Pfizer’s coronavirus vaccine

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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

By Mary Kekatos Senior Health Reporter For Dailymail.com and Associated Press

Published: | Updated:

Canada has become just 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 after an independent review on safety and efficacy.

‘Canadians can feel confident that the review process was rigorous and that we have strong monitoring systems in place,’ a government department statement read. 

Canada is set to receive up to 249,000 doses this month and four million doses by March 2021.

This means that Canadians may start being immunized against the deadly virus starting next week. 

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

The government has purchased six million doses of Pfizer’s vaccine, developed with its German partner BioNTech SE, which requires people to receive two doses each.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the first vials will arrive at 14 distribution centers across the country next week.

Currently, only Canadians above age 16 are allowed to receive the vaccine. Once Pfizer releases more data from its ongoing clinical trials, it may be approved for use in children.

The news comes just one day after the UK began administering the inoculation to senior citizens in the city of Coventry.

Meanwhile, the advisory committee of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is set to meet tomorrow on whether or not to recommend approving the jab.

This story is breaking and will be updated.