Health Canada has approved the COVID-19 vaccine produced by Pfizer and BioNTech. (The Canadian Press)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

GREEN LIGHT

Canada approves Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine, distribution expected within days

Dec 9, 2020 | 8:21 AM

NANAIMO — Health Canada has approved the first independently reviewed COVID-19 vaccine.

The approval green-light’s distribution of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine across the country, beginning with seniors and those working in the healthcare system. Up to 249,000 doses are earmarked for Canada out of the company’s first batch.

“The efficacy of the vaccine was established to be approximately 95 per cent. The vaccine was well tolerated by participants and has no important safety concerns. The benefit-to-risk assessment for Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is considered favourable,” a Health Canada report stated.

Premier John Horgan, provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and health minister Adrian Dix are due to host a news conference Wednesday, Dec. 9 to detail roll-out of the vaccine in B.C. Around 4,000 people are expected to be immunized in the province within the next week.

B.C. reported 566 new cases on Tuesday, Dec. 8 including 11 within the Island Health region. Fatalities across the province have been in double digits each day over the last two weeks, including the seventh reported in the Island Health region.

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The province also announced details on their planned stimulus cheques of up to $1,000 for eligible families and $500 for singles.

Britain became the first country to begin distributing the vaccine, with a 90-year-old woman in England being the first public recipient on Tuesday.

Two people reported allergic reactions to the shot and health officials in England are recommending anyone with a history of severe allergic reactions not receive the vaccine.

Canada has purchased 20-million doses of the Pfizer vaccine, which requires people to receive two doses each and has the option to buy 56-million more.

Health Canada is continuing to review three other vaccine candidates.

— with files from The Canadian Press

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