The First COVID-19 Vaccine Just Got The Green Light From Health Canada

It's what everyone's been waiting for!
Contributor

The announcement people have been waiting for has arrived, as Health Canada has officially approved a COVID-19 vaccine.

The news came on December 9 that the Pfizer-BioNtech vaccine candidate had officially been approved for use by people 16 years of age or older.

It was first submitted to Health Canada on October 9, and was put through a "thorough, independent review."

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Canadians can feel confident that the review process was rigorous and that we have strong monitoring systems in place. Health Canada

Health Canada ultimately determined that the vaccine met its safety, efficacy, and quality requirements.

"Today's decision from Health Canada is a historic moment in our collective fight against the COVID-19 pandemic and is a major step towards returning to normalcy in Canada," Cole Pinnow, President of Pfizer Canada said in a statement.

A collection of documents related to the approval will be made public, including a summary of evidence that was part of the review.

A trial run to ensure the safe delivery of doses across the country is taking place today.

The government has mapped out which people will be the first to receive the vaccine, including high-risk groups and frontline healthcare workers.

  • Colin Leggett was a Contributing Editor with Narcity Canada. He wrote on the national news team for over a year and contributed to coverage of the 2019 Canadian Federal Election, as well as the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic. Colin has a Bachelor's Degree in Communications and Cultural Theory from McMaster University, as well as a graduate certificate in Television Writing and Producing from Humber College. He is an avid consumer of politics and pop culture, having written about everything from food to television to Canada-U.S. relations.

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