ACCESS Newswire
26 Nov 2020, 04:56 GMT+10
OTTAWA, ON / ACCESSWIRE / November 25, 2020 / Innovative Medicines Canada (IMC) issued the following statement today in response to questions about Canada's capacity to manufacture COVID-19 vaccines:
'IMC's member companies are working closely with the federal and provincial governments to ensure that when COVID-19 vaccines become available, Canadians have equitable and fair access to them.
'Contrary to some recent public statements by the federal government, under normal circumstances Canada does in fact have access to a sufficient quantity of vaccines to meet Canadian requirements, thanks to highly integrated and efficient global supply chain systems, and to the significant manufacturing capacity we have in this country.
'However, global demand for COVID-19 vaccines will be exponentially higher than the largest volume of vaccines ever before produced, which was 450 million doses per year for polio. It is anticipated that given the number of doses needed to effectively vaccinate individuals against COVID-19, between 12 billion and 15 billion doses will be required worldwide.
'Further complicating things is the fact that at least two of the most promising vaccine candidates are based on advanced technology requiring not only highly specialized facilities to produce them, but also specially-trained employees, and specialized transportation and distribution systems. Coupled with the fact that only a handful of manufacturers globally have the capacity to manufacture on this truly unique scale, Canada is not alone in its efforts to maximize existing manufacturing capacity while also working with the global innovative medicines sector so that we can fulfill our commitment to ensuring Canadians have fair and equitable access to the vaccines.
'If Canada wants to grow its domestic manufacturing capacity, we need a regulatory system that is more competitive. The current PMPRB regulatory changes, which come into effect January 1, 2021, are ill timed due to the ongoing pandemic and will not help with respect to Canadian manufacturing capability.
'That is why industry has put forward a proposal to Health Canada - one that includes commitments by industry to invest in expanding Canadian biopharmaceutical manufacturing capacity - that would not only help them achieve their public policy objectives, but that would ensure patient access, and encourage investment in the life sciences.
'While we wait for Health Canada's response, we urge them to delay the January 1, 2021 implementation date until the pandemic is over so that we can focus on fighting COVID-19.'
For more information:
Sarah Dion-Marquis
Director, Media and Public Relations
Telephone: 613-769-6510
E-mail: [email protected]
SOURCE: Innovative Medicines Canada / Médicaments novateurs Canada
Get a daily dose of Canada Standard news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Canada Standard.
More InformationENNIS, Texas: A man died, and three of his family members were injured when their RV flipped several times during a strong storm at...
One halcyon spring day in 1903, the 69-year-old anatomist and naturalist Dr. James Bell Pettigrew sat at the top of a sloping street...
WEST PALM BEACH, Florida: Air Force fighter jets have stopped a civilian plane that entered restricted airspace near Donald Trump's...
CHICAGO/WASHINGTON, D.C.: Farmers and food groups across the U.S. are laying off workers, stopping investments, and struggling to get...
SIOUX FALLS, South Dakota: A new South Dakota law banning the use of eminent domain for carbon capture pipelines has cast doubt on...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: Officials working on diversity and inclusion programs at the U.S. Office of the Director of National Intelligence...
(Photo credit: Nicole Hester / The Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images) Tre Johnson scored 20 points and Tramon Mark...
(Photo credit: D. Ross Cameron-Imagn Images) Stephen Curry became the first player in NBA history to make 4,000 career 3-pointers...
(Photo credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images) Chucky Hepburn had 20 points, none bigger than a midrange jumper at the buzzer that lifted...
Melbourne [Australia] March 14, (ANI): Cricket Australia extended warm wishes to everyone celebrating the vibrant festival of Holi....
(Photo credit: Jordan Prather-Imagn Images) Otega Oweh drove the length of the court and avoided three defenders to convert the winning...
(Photo credit: Bob Kupbens-Imagn Images) Collin Graf scored two goals and Will Smith had a goal and an assist in the San Jose Sharks'...