Why domestic vaccine production across Canada is key to controlling another pandemic
The former dean of medicine at McGill University says Canadians should not forget about the shortage of vaccines the country faced during a very difficult moment in the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We like to forget things that have happened that are difficult,” Dr. Abe Fuks told CTV News Toronto.
“So when there’s a pandemic, at a societal level, or when someone has been ill, at an individual level, we like to get on with our life afterwards and forget the bad times.”
It’s a phenomenon Fuks describes as “social amnesia” and something he said needs to be avoided before another pandemic hits.
“In the midst of a pandemic, or a volcanic eruption, is not the time to plan for the future. We owe it to ourselves and certainly the next generation to avoid a catastrophe, we need to plan now,” he said.
Fuks’ comments come as Canada prepares to enter the third year of COVID-19, with at least 82.52 per cent of the population over the age of 5 considered to be fully vaccinated.
Although Canada’s vaccination rate is considered high now, the initial rollout of doses across the country in early 2021 was plagued by delays in shipments from countries that produce vaccines on their own soil.
“You may not get supplies if others are needy in the countries of manufacturers,” explains Earl Brown, a professor emeritus of virology at the University of Ottawa. “You have to have domestic production.”
Canadians have become increasingly familiar with the pharmaceutical giants Pfizer, Moderna, and AstraZeneca over the last 22 months, but there was a time when Canada was considered a powerhouse in mass vaccine production through the work of Connaught Labs in Toronto and Institut Armand Frappier in Montreal.
Brown believes that in recent decades people got complacent and stopped thinking strongly about vaccines and their benefit in the face of a major health-care crisis.
“So you had a model where it was hard to make money in vaccines and you have a big contraction in the 70s and 80s,” Brown explained. That led to the eventual sale of Connaught and Frappier to pharmaceutical companies in France and the U.K, respectively.
In an effort to regain Canada’s former vaccine production horsepower, the federal government has invested $1.3 billion in 29 COVID-19 domestic biomanufacturing, vaccines and therapeutics projects -- nine of which are in Ontario.
That money includes $126 million for the construction of the Biologics Manufacturing Centre in Montreal, a facility that will be able to produce roughly two million doses of the Maryland-based Novavax vaccine every month.
The facility is not yet operational and the vaccine is awaiting approval by Health Canada, which is expected to rule on its use in fighting COVID-19 in the coming weeks.
But investments being made now in domestic vaccine production are a step in the right direction, said Fuks, and can prepare us before the next pandemic arrives in Canada and “social amnesia” sets in.
“We often forget, we think its over with, we’re okay now,” Fuks said. “And sadly, with every crisis, we forget, and pray there won’t be a next one. Now it’s fine to pray, but you have to get ready.”
With files from Rahim Ladhani
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Half of Canadians have negative opinion of latest Liberal budget: poll
A new poll suggests the Liberals have not won over voters with their latest budget, though there is broad support for their plan to build millions of homes.
opinion Why you should protect your investments by naming a trusted contact person
Appointing a trusted person to help with financial obligations can give you peace of mind. In his personal finance column for CTVNews.ca, Christopher Liew outlines the key benefits of naming a confidant to take over your financial responsibilities, if the need ever arises.
An Ontario senior called Geek Squad for help with his printer. Instead, he got scammed out of $25,000
An Ontario senior’s attempt to get technical help online led him into a spoofing scam where he lost $25,000. Now, he’s sharing his story to warn others.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
Ottawa injects another $36M into vaccine injury compensation fund
The federal government has added $36.4 million to a program designed to support people who have been seriously injured or killed by vaccines since the end of 2020.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Accused of burglary at stepmother's home, U.S. senator says she wanted her father's ashes: charges
A Minnesota state senator and former broadcast meteorologist told police that she broke into her stepmother's home because her stepmother refused to give her items of sentimental value from her late father, including his ashes, according to burglary charges filed Tuesday.
Twins from Toronto were Canada's top two female finishers at this year's Boston Marathon
When identical twin sisters Kim and Michelle Krezonoski were invited to compete against some of the world’s most elite female runners at last week’s Boston Marathon, they were in disbelief.
LGBTQ2S+ rallies to be held across Canada, billed as largest since marriage equality
Organizations across the country are gearing up for what they describe as the largest LGBTQ2S+ mobilization since the push for marriage equality.