Thank you, Mr. Chair and members of the Standing Committee on Health for inviting Major General Fortin and me to return today to inform and discuss with you our work on vaccines.
The Government of Canada has taken a whole-of-government approach to much of the work we have been undertaking in response to the pandemic. We've been relying on accumulating scientific data and emerging evidence and we've been pulling on expert guidance to inform our decisions, strategies and recommendations. We're also participating in international communities of practice in order to benefit from the experiences and developments in other countries.
As you know, we've begun our phased approach to vaccinating Canadians. I'm pleased to say that we are on track to complete phase one by the end of March. As expected, we're ready to move on for phase two in April. Major General Fortin will be speaking more about the upcoming “big lift” we require to get ready for the influx of additional vaccine doses.
Last fall, the vaccine rollout task force was established inside the Public Health Agency of Canada in order to provide public health and strategic policy advice to decision-makers and also to oversee the management of the delivery of the vaccine portfolio. That included logistical planning and tracking of data on a secure platform as vaccines are deployed and distributed across Canada and to provide leadership and support to the various fora of the immunization experts like the National Advisory Committee on Immunization or the special advisory committee. It is also managing vaccine surveillance programs for issues such as vaccine safety, effectiveness of the vaccines and the coverage of the vaccines as we deliver them.
In order to fulfill its mandate, this internal task force is working closely with provinces, territories, indigenous leaders and communities across the country to support a consistent approach to COVID-19 immunization. The task force's expert advice and leadership have been invaluable over the past quarter and will be invaluable going forward as we move into the second phase.
Throughout the pandemic, public health practices and efforts of all Canadians have proven to be effective in containing the spread of the virus. Our efforts have brought us this far, but we have to continue wearing our masks, washing our hands and physical distancing as we move forward, until the immunization campaign is well advanced.
We also need to rely on effective border measures to mitigate the further introduction and spread of the virus and the virus' variants into Canada. That is why as of this month, travellers arriving in Canada have to produce at the border a molecular test done before arrival in Canada. They are tested again on the day of arrival and on day 10 of their quarantine. They have to continue to present quarantine plans that are appropriate and contact information for us for following up with them.
COVID-19 virus variants of concern have emerged in countries around the world. There is evidence that these variants are more easily transmitted. There is the risk that they cause more severe illness. These variants require our attention and we need to track them. We need to learn more about them and we need to use science to guide us.
In this regard, the Government of Canada recently allocated $53 million in funding for an integrated variants of concern strategy that builds on sequencing, research and surveillance capacity for detecting the variants and informing public health measures. This vital work has provided decision-makers with the latest science on controlling for variants of concern and will continue to respond accordingly and explore options for variants, such as vaccine boosters to control against their spread.
Canada has successfully secured a diverse portfolio of vaccines to vaccinate everyone in Canada who wants to be vaccinated, by the end of September. To this end, Canada has negotiated advance purchase agreements with seven pharmaceutical companies. This includes a diversity of vaccine technologies, including two mRNA vaccines, which are Pfizer and Moderna. As of this morning, as you'll know from the announcements, AstraZeneca has been authorized by Health Canada as well.
Several other vaccines are currently under review using the rolling review process Health Canada has developed. AstraZeneca will help with the immunization campaign starting relatively soon. I believe today, as well, an announcement was made about initial early doses, which will help us begin to take on board these new viral vector vaccines as part of our immunization campaign.
Last fall, NACI, the National Advisory Committee on Immunization, identified priority populations that would be vaccinated first. In anticipation of increased supply, they will be updating their advice on who should be the priority populations. We will continue to be guided by their evidence and their advice in the work that we do.
Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.