Dear Editor:
Many Canadians express concern about vaccine availability and criticism of manufacturers Pfizer and Moderna and PM Trudeau and the federal government. I have a different perspective.
The first cases of COVID-19, caused by the SARS-CoV2 virus, were identified in December, 2019. The genetic sequence of the virus was provided by China in January, 2020. It usually takes more than 10 years and $500 million to develop, test and register a vaccine. But almost immediately, governments, scientists and pharmaceutical companies in Canada and internationally redirected talent and resources to initiate more than a hundred COVID-19 vaccine development projects.
Less than one year later, 1/10th the usual development time, we have two proven effective vaccines, registered by Health Canada and going into people’s arms! And there are three more (AstraZeneca, Johnson&Johnson and Novavax) in the accelerated rolling review process at Health Canada. One of those will be produced at a Montreal plant later this year. Truly remarkable accomplishments!
Pfizer and Moderna don’t deserve criticism for doing what some considered impossible; for being first with robust data for Health Canada and for risking millions to manufacture vaccines before registration. And PM Trudeau and the Canadian government folks deserve praise for their focus on the pandemic, for contracting the right vaccine candidates early and for the distribution of vaccines despite sourcing and storage challenges.
More manufacturing glitches are likely and there will undoubtedly be international competition for limited vaccine supplies. But there will also be other vaccines on stream soon to boost supply, at least one of which will be manufactured in Canada.
Let’s protect each other by continuing to follow public health guidelines, prioritize high risk folks and frontline workers for vaccination and encourage, not criticize, PM Trudeau, the federal government and companies for what has been accomplished – to our collective benefit.
Peter van Vloten,
Fergus