Health Committee on Feb. 5th, 2021

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

Has the minister updated those guidelines, given potential quarterly supply disruptions?

[Patty Hajdu, Liberal, Thunder Bay—Superior North, ON]

I will turn to Dr. Tam for the work that she's doing through NACI. There has been a review of the dosing schedules.

[Dr. Theresa Tam, Chief Public Health Officer, Public Health Agency of Canada]

The National Advisory Committee on Immunization, based on the data available, is recommending—

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

For time's sake, could you table that updated schedule with the committee?

[Dr. Theresa Tam]

Yes. It is published.

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

Thank you.

Other countries have decided not to administer the AstraZeneca vaccine to people aged 65 and older due to efficacy concerns. Does the government anticipate that the AstraZeneca vaccine, if approved, will be administered to Canadians aged 65 and older?

[Patty Hajdu, Liberal, Thunder Bay—Superior North, ON]

The AstraZeneca vaccine is still under review by the regulators.

[Michelle Rempel, Conservative, Calgary Nose Hill, AB]

Does the minister anticipate that it will be delivered to those aged 65 and older?

[The Chair, Liberal, Ron McKinnon]

Thank you, Ms. Rempel Garner.

We go now to Mr. Kelloway.

Mr. Kelloway, please go ahead for six minutes.

[Mike Kelloway, Liberal, Cape Breton—Canso, NS]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

My questions for this round will be directed to Minister Anand.

Thank you, Minister, for being here today and for your hard work and your department's hard work that you've done over the past year.

I think PSPC has been steadfast in its commitment to ensuring that Canadians have the best access to tools when it comes to fighting the virus, like PPE and vaccines. Here is a concern of mine: Canadians across the country are hearing so many different stories about Canada's position in the world with respect to vaccines. I have two questions for you. Can you tell us how we are faring? Does this have any effect on how you negotiate with vaccine companies?

Thank you.

[Anita Anand, Liberal, Oakville, ON]

I want to correct the record regarding the honourable member's previous question with regard to the Globe and Mail article she referenced. Any assertion that we weren't expecting doses in the first quarter is categorically false. From the beginning, our contract stipulated first-quarter deliveries as they are now occurring. In July and the beginning of August, we signed contracts for deliveries to begin in the first quarter. That is exactly what is happening now with doses arriving in Canada, including with the early deliveries of both approved vaccines in December. That is why we can say with confidence that our vaccine procurements remain on track for four million Pfizer doses and two million Moderna doses by the end of March, and vaccines for all Canadians by the end of September, despite these temporary but not entirely unexpected delays. We will continue to provide Canadians with accurate and clear information based on the contracts and discussions we have with the manufacturers as soon as we have them.

Now, to the question from the honourable member, I will say that at the outset, we signed very early with Pfizer and Moderna in order to be out in front of [Technical difficulty—Editor] countries. We were one of the first countries to sign with Moderna. We were the fourth country to sign with Pfizer. That is why were able to have one of the earliest accesses to those vaccines at the beginning of December, and that is why they came forward and quickly sold options to us for 20 million more of each of those candidates so we now have 80 million doses of approved vaccines in this country to ensure inoculation of all Canadians prior to the end of September.

In addition to that, I would like to mention to the honourable member and this committee that we are working with these approved manufacturers to move up their delivery timeline—to move doses from Q3 into Q2—so that we can potentially see additionally accelerated timelines. If additional vaccines are approved, we can also expect to see doses of those additional vaccine candidates in Q2 and Q3.

Again, the end of September is the outside time frame that we are providing based on approved vaccines. We may, indeed, see that timeline shifting up over the course of the next weeks and months.

Thank you.

[Mike Kelloway, Liberal, Cape Breton—Canso, NS]

Thank you, Minister. Thank you for that reality check.

I believe we were one of the first countries to negotiate contracts with Pfizer and Moderna. Number one, is that true? Can you speak at all about the relationship we have with these companies and how we've developed that?

[Anita Anand, Liberal, Oakville, ON]

By all means, yes, that is true. We were one of the first countries to sign with these corporations. It's because of the very hard work of our public servants and the fortitude and heft that the Government of Canada brought to the negotiating table each and every day during the months of August and September, when we were concluding these agreements.

Signing seven contracts with leading vaccine manufacturers is no small feat. This allowed us to have about 400 million doses, enough vaccines to inoculate Canadians 10 times over. That was in addition to the vast PPE procurements these same public servants accomplished for Canada, as well as the more than 40 million rapid tests procured. We have been working around the clock in order to ensure that Canadians have the supplies they need.

In addition to those procurements, we have put in place an end-to-end logistics system. We purchase deep-freeze and ultra deep-freeze storage. We purchase gauze, syringes, alcohol swabs and sharps containers. We deliver these to the provinces and territories so that we can support the provinces and territories in a very collaborative and co-operative manner and all Canadians are supported through to the end of this crisis.

[Mike Kelloway, Liberal, Cape Breton—Canso, NS]

Do you have anything to add, Minister Hajdu, to what Minister Anand said, or do you have any insights on the topic at hand?

[Patty Hajdu, Liberal, Thunder Bay—Superior North, ON]

I just want to thank Minister Anand and her team for working so closely with Health Canada. In fact, we have worked extremely closely over the last several months, in particular around the time of the approval of Pfizer and Moderna. We had regular and ongoing communications both on the political side and through our departments to make sure that the approvals were indeed aligned with the procurement plans and schedule.

I want to also thank Health Canada for the incredible speed with which the regulators worked. This was done by additional resources invested in Health Canada regulatory teams, but also through the dedication of these teams. They worked literally 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to review the ongoing submission of data from both companies. Canada was indeed one of the first countries to approve both vaccines. We were very lucky to get early doses, which allowed for the provinces and territories to quite frankly get used to working with these unconventional vaccines that required, as we all know now, different ways to be stored and transported. The work that was done through Major-General Dany Fortin, with the provinces, will stand us well in terms of the future shipments that are coming.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ron McKinnon]

Thank you, Minister, and thank you, Mr. Kelloway.

Mr. Thériault, it's over to you for six minutes.

[Luc Thériault, Bloc, Montcalm, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Welcome to ministers Hajdu and Anand, as well as all the officials here today.

My comments will revolve around a few key words: transparency, clear-sightedness, predictability and credibility. The idea this afternoon is to practise good politics. Being a critic doesn't make you petty.

With 249,000 doses, you aren't exactly giving us light at the end of the tunnel. It's more like a sparkler display of false hope. Since January 28, the sparklers have given way to a flickering candle, one that goes out much of the time. Nevertheless, people need hope, and hope is built on predictability, clear-sightedness and transparency.

In a crisis, it's important that people continue to follow the health guidelines, that people remain engaged, that front-line workers know the path forward and that vulnerable people know how the crisis will end.

Why are you not being transparent about the vaccine delivery schedule? Why are you not putting out a new, credible schedule? Why are you not releasing the details about vaccine procurement and delivery?

[Patty Hajdu, Liberal, Thunder Bay—Superior North, ON]

I'll start and then turn to Minister Anand.

[Luc Thériault, Bloc, Montcalm, QC]

Just a second, please.

Mr. Chair, could you please stop the clock.

There is a delay between my question and the answer. Are you going to stop the clock for that? It's going to happen a lot during my turn. I don't think it's fair for me to lose all that time because of the interpretation delay. I hope you plan to stop the clock after I ask my question to allow for the delay.

Are you going to?

[The Chair, Liberal, Ron McKinnon]

Thank you, Mr. Thériault. I'll do my best.

[Luc Thériault, Bloc, Montcalm, QC]

Very good. Thank you.

Sorry to have cut you off, Minister. Please go ahead.

[Patty Hajdu, Liberal, Thunder Bay—Superior North, ON]

We have been completely transparent with provinces and territories. We've shared the good news with them and the bad news when doses are delayed. We've certainly shared with them our anticipated delivery schedules to the degree that we know them. I will ask Dany Fortin to speak a few words about that, because his work has been exemplary in this area of complete transparency with provinces and territories so they can—

[Luc Thériault, Bloc, Montcalm, QC]

Sorry to cut you off again, Minister.

Right now, all the experts are saying that your March 31 deadline for the delivery of six million doses is impossible to meet. Just yesterday, Karl Weiss said that, short of a miracle, it was absolutely impossible to vaccinate all Canadians who wanted to be vaccinated by the end of September.

Why, then, do you not put out a new timetable for the delivery of the vaccines, since they aren't forthcoming?

Why the lack of transparency?

[Patty Hajdu, Liberal, Thunder Bay—Superior North, ON]

I will just reiterate, MP Thériault, that in fact we have been transparent with Canadians, sharing good news and disappointing news. As you know, when we found out that there would be a delay in deliveries, we shared that information with provinces and territories openly, and we'll continue to do that every step of the way.

I will turn to Major-General Dany Fortin, if he has a moment, to speak a little about the conversations he has on an ongoing daily basis with provinces and territories, including Quebec, so they can be anticipating what they might expect to get.

[Luc Thériault, Bloc, Montcalm, QC]

I am perfectly aware that MGen Fortin is working with what he has. Right now, he doesn't have any vaccines to distribute. I am asking you the questions and I'd like you to answer, if you don't mind. When I have questions for MGen Fortin, I will ask him.

You said you were transparent. If that's true, you aren't clear-sighted. Even though the Prime Minister is doubling down, no one believes anymore that we will have herd immunity by September 21 because the vaccines will have all been administered.

Why so adamant, at a time when governments need the truth to make informed decisions about whether to tighten up or ease public health measures? That is the issue. This is a marathon. In a marathon, you need to know the markers you'll pass on the way to the finish line. You think you are being clear-sighted, but no one believes the schedule you've put forward because the math doesn't add up.