Canada approved Oxford–AstraZeneca’s coronavirus vaccine on Friday, making it the third shot officially authorized in the country.
The approval by Health Canada follows that of Pfizer and Moderna, both of which also require two doses.
The AstraZeneca shot is less effective in clinical trials than its rivals’ injections — 62 per cent versus high 90s — but offers distinct benefits.
One major advantage is in logistics. The shot can be stored and transported at normal refrigerated temperatures, unlike its leading mRNA-based competitors, which require ultra-cold storage.
The authorization sets in motion an agreement for up to 20 million vaccine doses to gradually funnel into Canada, though Canada is not expecting to receive the shots until at least the second quarter of this year.
The delivery schedule for those doses is expected to be confirmed after the vaccine is approved. However, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said earlier this month he believes most of those 20 million doses will be delivered before Canada Day.
Canada will also receive up to 1.9 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine through the global vaccine-sharing initiative known as COVAX by the end of June.
With Pfizer and Moderna, the first doses were administered within days of Health Canada approval.
Approval slowed
Health Canada has said the vaccine has been “a bit complicated” to review.
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One of the reasons is because of a mix-up in how big the doses were during the clinical trials. Some volunteers only received a half dose at first, according to Dr. Supriya Sharma, Health Canada’s chief medical adviser.
The age of the trial participants also made it difficult to finalize the rules for how the vaccine is to be used and on whom.
The first two phases of AstraZeneca’s trials did not include people over the age of 65. As a result, many European countries have only authorized it for use on people younger than 65.
Health Canada has approved the shot for all adults — anyone 18 years and older.
Studies point to benefits
More recent studies suggest the shot could offer a number of significant benefits. Preliminary findings from Oxford University, co-developer of the vaccine, hint that it may also reduce transmission of the virus and offers strong protection for three months on just a single dose.
So far, makers of all vaccines have said that their shots proved to be highly effective in protecting people from illness caused by the virus, but it was unclear whether the drugs could also suppress transmission of the virus.
It may also be a strong contender in the protection against COVID-19 variants, particularly the B.1.1.7 variant.
The companies have said that its vaccine has similar efficacy against the variant, which first began circulating in the U.K. but has since made a mark on Canada, particularly in Ontario and Alberta.
However, preliminary data suggests the vaccine offers only “minimal protection against mild or moderate disease” from the B.1.351 variant. This variant was first found in South Africa and is now the dominant form of the coronavirus in that country. The findings caused the country to halt use of the product earlier this month.
The study, which has not yet been peer-reviewed, has drawn skepticism from Canadian experts, who say it’s too premature to come to any conclusions.
Oxford University, co-developer of the vaccine, has said its researchers were in the process of tweaking their product to better protect against the variant.
European issues
AstraZeneca’s vaccine is also mired in some political controversy.
A bitter dispute between the drugmaker and the European Union has stirred threats of export controls that could block shipments to non-EU countries, like Canada.
Recently, the company has become embroiled in supply issues with the EU. It was initially reported the drugmaker would not be able to fulfill its second-quarter supply commitment to the EU due to production issues. However, the company later backtracked and insists the promise will be kept.
Canada is set to get its vaccines from factories in Europe.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has maintained that the possible measures from the EU would not hamper Canada’s agreements on deliveries. The threat has so far not impacted deliveries from Canada’s other approved vaccines, such as Moderna.
The AstraZeneca vaccine has already been approved in several countries, including the U.K. and the EU. The World Health Organization also gave the shot its approval this month, allowing vaccinations to begin in developing countries.
From a global standpoint, its low cost is also a major advantage. It runs about $4 USD ($5 CAD) per dose.
AstraZeneca, which says it aims to manufacture up to three billion doses in 2021, has pledged to make their product available at cost around the world until at least July.
— with files from Reuters and the Canadian Press
© 2021 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
