Canada to donate millions of Johnson & Johnson vaccines – CBC

Single-dose vaccines were bought for Canadians but never distributed in this country

Aug 12, 2021

Canada is donating all 10 million doses of the single-dose vaccine that it purchased from Johnson & Johnson but won’t use to low- and middle-income countries.

Procurement Minister Anita Anand announced the donation through the COVAX vaccine-sharing alliance on Thursday as many developing nations continue to struggle with a shortage of shots.

“This donation is on top of the the $2.5 billion in financial support that Canada has committed to international efforts to combat COVID-19 and Canada’s support for the developing world will continue going forward,” Anand said during a briefing Thursday.

The government says it will maintain a reserve of about four million vaccines for Canadians to access as needed, but Anand said the rest will be used in other countries.

“Canadian doses that are identified as surplus will be donated to international partners on an ongoing basis as negotiated and facilitated by Karina [Gould, minister of international development) and her team.”

Read more: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/canada-donate-vaccines-1.6138973