Evidence of meeting #17 for Health in the 43rd Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was vaccines.

A video is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Theresa Tam  Chief Public Health Officer, Public Health Agency of Canada
Dany Fortin  Vice-President, Vaccine Roll-Out Task Force, Logistics and Operations, Public Health Agency of Canada
Stephen Lucas  Deputy Minister, Department of Health

2:05 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Ron McKinnon

I call this meeting to order.

Welcome, everyone, to meeting 17 of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Health. The committee is meeting today to study the emergency situation facing Canadians in light of the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.

I'm going to forgo the usual housekeeping message, as recommended by the committee. I agree that we don't really need it at this stage of the game.

I would like to welcome the Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Health, and the the Honourable Anita Anand, Minister of Public Services and Procurement.

We have senior officials accompanying the ministers. From the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, we have Dr. Siddika Mithani, president. From the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, we have Dr. Michael Strong, president. He has not yet arrived but will hopefully join us as we proceed. From the Department of Health, we have Dr. Stephen Lucas, deputy minister. From the Department of Public Works and Government Services, we have Mr. Bill Matthews, deputy minister. From the Public Health Agency of Canada, we have Mr. Iain Stewart, president; and Major-General Dany Fortin, vice-president, vaccine rollout task force, logistics and operations; and Dr. Theresa Tam, Chief Public Health Officer. General Fortin has not yet joined us either.

We will go straight away into the ministers' statements, starting with Minister Hajdu.

Minister, please go ahead for 10 minutes.

February 5th, 2021 / 2:05 p.m.

Thunder Bay—Superior North Ontario

Liberal

Patty Hajdu LiberalMinister of Health

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair and honourable members.

Thank you for this opportunity to speak to you about the Government of Canada's COVID-19 vaccination strategy.

It's been just over one year since the first case of COVID-19 was detected in Canada. The intervening months have been extremely challenging. Canadians have experienced hardship, anxiety and heartbreaking losses. To say that it has been difficult is indeed an understatement.

But there is reason for hope. In less than a year, vaccines have been developed and authorized. Canadians are receiving them right now, and every single vaccination brings us closer to a safer, healthier and more prosperous future.

I would like to begin by providing an update on vaccine distribution. As you know, both the Pfizer and the Moderna vaccines have been authorized for use in Canada and are now being distributed across the country. So far, we have secured a total of 80 million doses of these two vaccines. Of these, more than 1.1 million doses have been delivered to the provinces and territories. This means that more than 860,000 people have received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine.

Although the delays recently announced by Pfizer and Moderna will have a short-term impact on vaccine rollout, we are still on track to receive the full six million doses from Pfizer and Moderna by the end of the first quarter. Starting in April, the pace will accelerate, with at least 20 million doses delivered between April and June. It is during this time that the mass vaccination campaigns will really begin to ramp up around the country. We are working with the provinces, territories and indigenous partners to prepare for this next phase. Most importantly, we expect to have enough vaccine for every Canadian by the end of September 2021, even if no other vaccine is authorized for use in Canada.

In the meantime, while supplies are limited, vaccines are being distributed strategically to the groups who need them most.

While the provinces and territories are responsible for the distribution of vaccines within their jurisdictions, their decision-making is informed by the recommendations of the National Advisory Committee on Immunization.

Last fall, the committee recommended who should be vaccinated first, given limited initial supplies of vaccines, and this includes residents and staff of congregate living settings that provide care for seniors; adults 70 years of age and older, starting with those 80 years of age and over; health care workers; and adults in indigenous communities where infection can have disproportionate consequences.

Given these guidelines, I'm pleased to say that there has already been notable progress in the territories. In Nunavut, more than 11% of the population has received at least one dose of Moderna. In the Northwest Territories and the Yukon, more than 21% and 9% of their respective populations have received at least one dose of the vaccine.

This month, the national advisory committee will be updating its guidance on the prioritization of initial doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, and this updated guidance will help inform stages two and three of the vaccine rollout as vaccine supplies increase.

In the meantime, we expect additional vaccines to be authorized. Health Canada is now reviewing vaccine submissions from AstraZeneca, Janssen, Verity Pharmaceuticals and Novavax. Should these vaccines be found to meet Health Canada's strict standards for safety, efficacy and quality, they would be authorized and included in upcoming vaccination campaigns.

Vaccine development is a long and highly complex process. In normal times, it can take years to carry out the extensive research needed to produce a safe and effective product. Vaccine reviews normally take place after all clinical studies are completed and the full results are available, but of course these aren't normal times. We're fighting a global pandemic, and many thousands of human lives hang in the balance. With this in mind, we have put into place measures to safely expedite vaccine authorization.

Health Canada is the regulator responsible for this process. We recognize the need for flexibility to expedite it, given the urgency of the COVID-19 pandemic, but we can't compromise on safety, quality and efficacy. That's why last fall I signed the interim order respecting the importation, sale and advertising of drugs for use in relation to COVID-19. This interim order allows us to accept rolling submissions for COVID-19 drugs and vaccines.

What that means is that manufacturers can submit data as it becomes available. These requirements are comparable to those established by other major regulators, such the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the European Medicines Agency, and the World Health Organization. It was through this expedited process that the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines were authorized. Health Canada is using the same process to review subsequent submissions for COVID-19 vaccines.

Once an authorized vaccine is in use, Canada continues to monitor its safety through its well-established post-market surveillance system. This system collects safety data from various domestic and international sources, including mandatory reporting by manufacturers, which allows Health Canada and public health authorities to respond quickly to changing trends or unusual adverse events.

This system was enhanced through the interim order, which provides the authority to impose terms and conditions on any authorization or establishment licence at any time. This includes a post-market safety and effectiveness system with risk mitigation measures, and additional assessments of safety information, as requested by Health Canada. Of course, Health Canada will not hesitate to take action if safety concerns are identified.

The Government of Canada is working closely with provinces, territories, indigenous and public health partners to ensure the timely rollout of the vaccines as they're authorized by Health Canada. Our vaccine strategy is being led by the national operations centre. This centre was created by the Public Health Agency of Canada and is supported by the Canadian Armed Forces and the Department of National Defence.

At the same time, the national emergency strategic stockpile of the Public Health Agency is making sure we have the supplies we need for a smooth rollout, and this includes millions of needles, syringes and alcohol swabs, as well as freezers for vaccine storage all across the country.

With vaccination now under way and measures in place to ensure a reliable supply of vaccines, we can look ahead to a future free of COVID-19.

The Government of Canada is doing everything it can to reach that future as soon as possible. We're taking steps to authorize safe and effective vaccines quickly. We're protecting our most vulnerable citizens first, and we're working with all partners to ensure that everyone who wants a vaccine can get access to a vaccine.

At the same time, the Government of Canada continues to invest in research. The Canadian Institutes of Health Research is addressing many issues related to COVID-19, from the development of vaccines and therapeutics to the variants of the virus, including their impact on the effectiveness of vaccines.

In the meantime, we cannot let our guard down. We must continue what we've been doing—staying physically distant, washing our hands, wearing a mask.

We owe it to our seniors. We owe it to our neighbours with high-risk conditions. We owe it to our health care providers and essential workers.

We must stay vigilant as we wait for our turn to get vaccinated. That day is coming soon. When it does, I want Canadians to be proud of how they worked together to overcome this unprecedented health crisis.

Thank you.

2:15 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Ron McKinnon

Thank you, Minister.

I'd like to acknowledge and welcome Dr. Strong and Major-General Fortin, who have now been able to join us.

Welcome, gentlemen.

We'll go now to a statement from Minister Anand.

Minister, please go ahead. You have 10 minutes.

2:15 p.m.

Oakville Ontario

Liberal

Anita Anand LiberalMinister of Public Services and Procurement

Thank you.

Good afternoon.

Mr. Chair, thank you for the opportunity to appear before this committee alongside my colleague and Minister of Health, the Honourable Patty Hajdu.

I would like to acknowledge that I am meeting you from the territory of many first nations, including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishinabe, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples.

Joining me today is my deputy minister, Mr. Bill Matthews.

Before I begin, I would also like to extend a thank you to all of the people working behind the scenes who continue to make these virtual meetings possible—particularly our interpreters and translators, who play an essential role in ensuring Canadians have the most pertinent information in this time of crisis.

Globally, we have been living with COVID-19 for more than a year now.

From the beginning, my department, Public Services and Procurement Canada, PSPC, has worked tirelessly to procure the necessary supplies needed to get Canada through this crisis.

To date we have secured more than 2.5 billion individual items of personal protective equipment. We have delivered tens of millions of COVID tests, supplies and therapeutics, including 19 million rapid tests, to our provincial and territorial counterparts.

We know that the fastest way out of this pandemic is by getting vaccines to Canadians as quickly as possible. This is why we signed a number of agreements, as early as July of last year, for more doses than we would need. Our efforts were guided by, first, the vaccine task force, and second, the Public Health Agency of Canada. Our procurements proceeded after we received that advice. Our goal from early on was to build up a diverse portfolio of vaccines so that Canada would be ready once they were authorized and indeed discovered. As a result, we now have doses of authorized vaccines under contract to be delivered this year—enough to inoculate every single eligible Canadian.

As Minister Hajdu has noted, vaccines are now arriving and more are on the way.

Yet, while we are making significant progress, we have also known there could be bumps along the way, and we have always been upfront with Canadians about that fact.

As their products are proving safe and effective, vaccine manufacturers are significantly ramping up production to fill orders from around the world. Given this unprecedented reality, it is not surprising that vaccine supply chains have been volatile.

The whole world is operating in this environment, and all countries are facing the same challenges. This is precisely why we took the approach of putting in place a number of agreements and building up a diverse portfolio with flexibility built into our contracts.

When Pfizer and Moderna informed Canada and other countries that deliveries would be lower than predicted in the short term, it was disappointing news. I want to assure members and all Canadians that these delays are only temporary.

I can tell you that I and my officials have been in touch with suppliers every day to ensure that they meet their contractual obligations, and deliveries to Canada did resume this week. Last Friday a shipment of Pfizer vaccines left Europe. This Wednesday a shipment of Moderna vaccines left. Both have arrived in Canada for distribution to the provinces and territories this week.

In addition, through the COVAX initiative, Canada will also receive approximately 1.9 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine. This will be in addition to the six million doses of Moderna and Pfizer that arrive this quarter.

Mr. Chair, the AstraZeneca deliveries are, of course, dependent upon Health Canada approval, and these deliveries are in addition to the 20 million does of AstraZeneca that Canada has secured through an advance purchase agreement directly with AstraZeneca.

I can assure this committee that I work closely with all vaccine suppliers to accelerate their delivery timelines into Canada. We continue to work closely especially with the four other manufacturers with which we also have bilateral agreements: Sanofi-GSK, Medicago, J&J and Novavax.

Our diversification strategy is working. We have two approved vaccine candidates, three in regulatory approval and two in clinical trials. Once regulatory authorization is given, we will take action to get more vaccines into Canada as soon as possible.

We need to remember that we are in the early stages of a massive undertaking. As supply chains stabilize, we will see more predictable and more significant progress.

With the action taken so far, by the end September every eligible Canadian who wishes to have a vaccine will be able to have one. I can tell you that we are continuing to press our suppliers to make sure we get advance deliveries for doses even earlier. No stone is being left unturned.

While vaccines are critically important, my department has also worked hard to secure the syringes needed to administer vaccinations.

We have secured more than 170 million syringes of varying sizes from a range of suppliers. This includes 64 million of the low-dead volume syringes, which are in extremely limited supply around the world.

The first delivery of approximately one million of those specialized syringes is arriving in Canada this week, with another million on the way for next week and deliveries continuing through to May.

Mr. Chair, there is no greater priority than protecting Canadians from COVID-19. We are fighting every day to get PPE, rapid tests and vaccines for Canadians. This is what we will continue to do.

I am committed to this effort. I look forward to working with this committee and my parliamentary colleagues to put this pandemic behind us, once and for all. Together, we will get through this.

I appreciate being here with you today, and I look forward to taking your questions.

Thank you so much. Merci beaucoup. Meegwetch.

2:20 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Ron McKinnon

Thank you, Minister.

I should advise everyone that when people switch from one language to another, there seems to be a bit of a gap in the translation. I would encourage people who are going to switch from one language to another to maybe insert a bit of a pause between one language and the next so that we can allow the sound system to catch up.

Thank you, Ministers, for your statements.

We go now to our rounds of questions. I expect we will be able to get in three rounds of questions.

We'll start with Ms. Rempel Garner.

Go ahead, please, for six minutes.

2:25 p.m.

Conservative

Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB

Thank you, Chair.

Today the Prime Minister said 20 million doses of AstraZeneca would arrive by June, but then officials from Public Works said the timeline was wrong.

Can the minister clarify by what date Canada will receive 20 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine?

2:25 p.m.

Liberal

Anita Anand Liberal Oakville, ON

I refer to our contracts for these doses, and we have deliveries of AstraZeneca arriving in Q2 and Q3. At the current time—

2:25 p.m.

Conservative

Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB

So the answer is that you can't. Thank you.

Does Canada's contract for the AstraZeneca vaccine require the drug maker to only use best reasonable efforts to supply Canada with doses or did the government negotiate a firm guarantee of doses on a set timetable delivery basis that is a guarantee beyond so-called reasonable efforts?

2:25 p.m.

Liberal

Anita Anand Liberal Oakville, ON

We are expecting doses of AstraZeneca, as I said, in Q2 and Q3 and we are in conversations with AstraZeneca every day to ensure those doses come into this country as soon as possible, and that is in our contracts.

2:25 p.m.

Conservative

Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB

Does the AstraZeneca contract guarantee delivery beyond best reasonable efforts?

2:25 p.m.

Liberal

Anita Anand Liberal Oakville, ON

My understanding, from my discussions with AstraZeneca as well as reading the contract, is that those deliveries will be arriving in Q2 and Q3. That is the promise we have under contract.

2:25 p.m.

Conservative

Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB

Did the government negotiate a guaranteed precise delivery timeline of vaccine doses with any manufacturer that is a guarantee beyond so-called reasonable efforts, and if so, which manufacturer?

2:25 p.m.

Liberal

Anita Anand Liberal Oakville, ON

All our contracts have quarterly delivery schedules. The weekly delivery schedules that the provinces and territories are seeing are estimated delivery timelines that the companies are providing directly to the Public Health Agency of Canada.

2:25 p.m.

Conservative

Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB

I'll take that as a “no”.

To the Minister of Health, given recent shortfall fluctuations, has the government asked the provinces to plan for potential logistical issues in terms of mass end-of-quarter delivery or distribution as opposed to monthly or more frequent allotments, including spoilage issues due to freezer and movement capacity?

2:25 p.m.

Liberal

Patty Hajdu Liberal Thunder Bay—Superior North, ON

Through the national operations centre, the government is working on a day-by-day basis with provinces and territories to support them in delivering vaccines as they arrive.

2:25 p.m.

Conservative

Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB

Have any of the provinces expressed to the government challenges they might face by end of quarter as opposed to a monthly or more frequent delivery basis?

2:25 p.m.

Liberal

Patty Hajdu Liberal Thunder Bay—Superior North, ON

Provinces and territories have expressed a number of challenges they might face, and the federal government is supporting them to address those challenges.

I'll turn to Major-General Dany Fortin to speak a bit more about the ongoing relationship.

2:25 p.m.

Conservative

Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB

That's good, thank you, I was just looking for a yes or no.

A Globe and Mail report today stated that the government only expected the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines to be approved in April, which contributed to our current shortage.

Can the minister tell us when she assumes, for rollout purposes, AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson, Novavax and Medicago to be approved by Health Canada, given they assumed April for Pfizer and Moderna?

2:25 p.m.

Liberal

Patty Hajdu Liberal Thunder Bay—Superior North, ON

The regulatory process is independent, as she knows.

2:25 p.m.

Conservative

Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB

Again, they did make an assumption of April, which is why I was asking the question.

What date are we anticipating the first arrival of vaccines from the COVAX program?

2:25 p.m.

Liberal

Anita Anand Liberal Oakville, ON

Thus far, we have not been given a delivery date from the COVAX facility. It has indicated just about half a million doses could arrive in Q1. We are still in discussions with them to firm up that timeline, which is of course dependent upon regulatory approval in Canada and WHO approval.

2:25 p.m.

Conservative

Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB

Does the government anticipate we will have approved the AstraZeneca vaccine prior to receiving the shipment of this vaccine from COVAX or will we have taken doses from poorer nations that we aren't allowed to administer to our own citizens?

2:25 p.m.

Liberal

Anita Anand Liberal Oakville, ON

To be clear, we're not taking doses from poorer nations. The way the COVAX facility is set up is that we have donated 220 million twice, once for the developing countries and once for Canada to have access.

2:25 p.m.

Conservative

Michelle Rempel Conservative Calgary Nose Hill, AB

The government negotiated quarterly not weekly delivery quotas. France, the United States and the U.K. health authorities have issued concerns with extending the dosing windows due to potential efficacy delays.

Has the government prepared guidelines for the provinces on how best to administer doses, given potentially quarterly supply disruptions?

2:30 p.m.

Liberal

Patty Hajdu Liberal Thunder Bay—Superior North, ON

The dosing schedules have been provided through the regulatory approval process.