Health Canada Just Approved A Third COVID-19 Vaccine

Health Canada has approved the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine in Canada, announced Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in a press conference on February 26.

Health Canada regulators established that the vaccine is 62% effective after two doses and authorized its use for Canadians who are 18 years of age and older.

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"We now have a third safe and effective vaccine independently approved by health experts in Canada," Trudeau said.

Health Canada also authorized the Serum Institute of India's version of the AstraZeneca vaccine called COVISHIELD, sponsored in Canada by Ontario-based Verity Pharmaceuticals.

The prime minister added that two million doses from the Serum Institute will be delivered in Canada in "the coming months" — 500,000 of which are set to arrive "within weeks."

There are also an additional 20 million doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, Trudeau said, expected to arrive in the spring.

Between the three authorized vaccines, Trudeau said Canada will receive more than 6.5 million doses by the end of March.

That's enough to fully vaccinate at least 3.2 million Canadians. 

"Together, we will make sure that every Canadian who wants it will be vaccinated by September," Trudeau said.

Health Canada has a robust website with all the latest information on the vaccines and can answer any questions you may have. Click here for more information.