Vaccination is one of the world's greatest public health achievements. For over 50 years, vaccines have helped prevent and control the spread of deadly diseases and saved the lives of millions of infants, children and adults.
For example, there are vaccines for epidemics such as Ebola, childhood diseases, debilitating diseases such as polio, diseases such as yellow fever that are common in some travel destinations, influenza strains that change every year, and preventing or treating cancer. Many vaccines are recommended as part of Canadian public health programs to prevent people from getting diseases. This means they are given to large numbers of people.
People in my riding of Scarborough—Agincourt and many people across Canada are so grateful to have vaccines, especially during this COVID period. I would rather protect Canadians. This is about protecting Canadians, not the government.
I mentioned that we are still procuring vaccines. Why would we want to jeopardize this?
Vaccine companies may be reluctant to come, to continue to do business or even to conduct research. I want to ensure that Canadians are able to have continued access, not just to COVID vaccines but to other vaccines like the flu, HPV, shingles, travel vaccines and much more.
It is important that we continue to have the ability to purchase vaccines, that companies feel confident there will not be a breach of commitments, and that choice be there for us to be able to select from a variety of companies to purchase vaccines. I worry that this limits our future ability to have ready access to a variety of vaccines.
I believe that Mr. Housefather's amendment is reasonable and that it should be considered.
Thank you.