Montreal Is Going To Host Novavax COVID-19 Vaccine Production At A New Facility

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced on Tuesday that American company Novavax will be producing its COVID-19 vaccine at a new facility in Montreal. 

During clinical trials in the United Kingdom, the Novavax vaccine demonstrated 89.3% efficacy in protecting against COVID-19, according to a statement on the company's website.

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This is a major step forward to get vaccines made in Canada, for Canadians. 

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau

"We created a smart, proactive plan on vaccines and vaccines rollout," said Trudeau. 

A "memorandum of understanding" was reached with Novavax to produce the vaccines at the new NRC Royalmount facility.

The facility is still under construction, but will be done by the "end of summer," according to Trudeau.

While the vaccine is still pending Health Canada approval, Trudeau said that "tens of millions of Novavax COVID-19 doses will be made right here at home." 

"We need as much domestic capacity for vaccine production as possible." 

Along with the Novavax facility, the Canadian government invested in facilities at the University of Saskatchewan and in Precision NanoSystems in Vancouver to produce vaccines in Canada.