Health Committee on May 21st, 2021

[Bill Matthews]

Mr. Chair, just to clarify that, when these contracts were negotiated, these suppliers were effectively experimenting and manufacturing at risk, so when you sign on for doses.... While we have the right to donate them, these doses met the regulatory tests, so they are Canada's to do with as we choose.

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

Is there no opt-out clause?

[Bill Matthews]

There are opt-out clauses in terms of options, but in terms of the actual initial commitment around doses, they are doses that Canada signed on for.

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

Is that the same with all of the contracts we've executed?

[Bill Matthews]

I'm going from memory here, but generally speaking these were very much “at risk contracts”, so the vaccine producers were effectively not interested in allowing for opt-out clauses because they were taking all of the risk in terms of the research, the clinical trials, and then the eventual production. When you sign on for doses, you are making that commitment.

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

Okay.

Dr. Tunis, on what date will the NACI report be released on second doses for persons who have received their first dose with AstraZeneca?

[Dr. Matthew Tunis]

It's impossible to provide an exact date because the committee's deliberations are contingent on scientific evidence coming out of the mixed-schedule studies in the U.K. Therefore, depending on the progress of that research, the committee will be timing its advice very shortly after that. We do anticipate—

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

Can you give a ballpark date?

[Bill Matthews]

Yes. We do anticipate doing so in the first two weeks of June, and the committee is very committed to doing this as quickly as possible, understanding the need for provinces and territories to design their programs around this.

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

Thank you.

I guess this question would be either for procurement or PHAC—I'm not sure. How many doses of Moderna are we expecting in the months of June and July?

[Bill Matthews]

Maybe I can start, and Iain can chime in.

Moderna becomes the workhorse of the portfolio in Q3. There's a big Q3 ramp up. We are waiting for a revised schedule from Moderna, because I think it's been well document that Moderna has hit a bit of a bump in production. We should have clarity on what the schedule looks like for June and July in the next week or so.

I apologize, Mr. Chair, as I can't give you a firm number on expectations for Moderna in total for June and July, but we should have a better sense after next week.

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

We know that Moderna has prioritized delivering doses to EU countries.

Mr. Matthews, has the government directed you to look at any options for legal recourse, given the delays in clarity for delivery from Moderna?

[Bill Matthews]

Mr. Chair, it's not clear to me that Moderna has prioritized EU countries. They have, as I mentioned, had some challenges, and they are trying to best serve the various contracts in the best way possible.

More than a million doses arrived this week. We're optimistic that we will get the next shipment of Moderna in the first week of June, but as I said, Mr. Chair, we'll have to wait upon further details on what June and July will look like.

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

Dr. Tam, in response to a question from one of my colleagues you cited data saying that approximately 80% of Canadians were open to receiving a vaccine.

Are you or is your agency assuming about a 20% hesitancy rate in Canada, then?

[Dr. Theresa Tam]

With the rest of the 20% there are some who are questioning and want to know more, but I think there are maybe around 12% to 13% who are essentially against taking the vaccine. I think, then, that the 20% is heterogenous. I would have to say, however, that even with good vaccine confidence, we mustn't be complacent, for sure, in our effort.

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

We're assuming, then, about an 80% uptake rate in Canada, roughly.

[Dr. Theresa Tam]

We don't know for sure, but it's looking quite good from that perspective.

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

Thank you.

For my last question I'll go back to Mr. Stewart.

Just to be perfectly clear, as of today, if a Canadian crosses the border to be vaccinated in the U.S., even with appropriate documentation, they would still have to quarantine upon re-entering Canada, is that so?

[Iain Stewart]

My colleague, John Ossowski, could speak more definitively than I can, but my understanding is that the U.S. would not admit them, if that were the purpose of their trip.

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

There are Canadians who can enter the U.S. legally and could do this. If somebody were allowed access into the U.S. to be vaccinated, would they have to quarantine upon return?

[Iain Stewart]

They have now made a trip into the U.S. They would come back, and they would be subject to quarantine and testing.

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

Are there any plans to change this?

[Iain Stewart]

Do you mean, for people to go south of the border and get a vaccine and then come back across?

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

—without quarantining.

[Iain Stewart]

Is there any change? No, there is no plan to change that.