Canada health regulator approves Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine

Dhaka, Bangladesh || Friday, 26 April 2024 || 13 Boishakh 1431

HEADLINE:

Kazi Zarzees bin Ertaza steps to 21 today Bashundhara MD honoured with ‘TRAB Smart Performance Award’ Today 20th death anniversary of Shahidur Rahman, the bright star of Judiciary President appoints Sheikh Hasina as Prime Minister First woman barrister on Board of Directors of Gulshan Club Bangladesh Army and Canadian University of Bangladesh Sign Memorandum of Understanding DNCC, Borak Real Estate sign deal, Sheraton goes into full swing

From pandemic to Padma bridge: Will the anti-Hasina brigade ever learn?

The anti-Sheikh Hasina brigade has been paid back fair

No one remembers the bravery of Badruzzamanan in '71

Badruzzaman Badrul, the expatriate son of a brave martyr

'Minar-e Kabir', the highest Islamic Monument in Jhalokati

Minar-e Kabir is a minaret located in Sugandia village

Bashundhara Group gets ‘Best Brand’ recognition

Bashundhara Group, the country’s largest business conglomerate, has been

http://www.dailyvorerpata.com/ad/72890.jpg

Canada health regulator approves Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine

Peoples Time Desk

Published : Thursday, 10 December, 2020 at 12:59 PM, Count : 481

Canada health regulator approves Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine

Canada’s health regulator approved Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine Wednesday, days ahead of possible approval in the United States, and said it hopes to start giving the shots next week, reports The Associated Press.

The vaccine made by U.S. drugmaker Pfizer and Germany’s BioNTech vaccine already has been authorized for use by the United Kingdom and Bahrain, and officials have said they expect the U.S. authorization within days.

“This a momentous occasion,” said Dr. Supriya Sharma, chief medical adviser at Health Canada. “The geek in me is amazed. No one would have thought, even when we looked back at the first discovery of the virus, that less than a year later we would be authorizing and distributing a vaccine.”

Sharma said Canadians should feel comfortable getting the shot, which was “authorized only after a thorough assessment of the evidence demonstrated that it met Canada’s strict standards for safety, efficacy and quality.”

Health Canada said the terms of the approval require the manufacturer to continue providing information on the vaccine.

Canada is set to receive up to 249,000 doses this month and officials expect to start to administer 30,000 doses next week after an initial batch is shipped from Belgium on Friday.

Britain began vaccinations Tuesday.

U.S. regulators on Tuesday also released their first scientific evaluation of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine and confirmed it offers strong protection. Vaccines are emerging from an all-out worldwide race and are reaching the market less than a year after the virus was even identified - a remarkable scientific achievement that shaved years off the usual process.

The encouraging developments come as the coronavirus continues surging across much of the world. The scourge has claimed more than 1.5 million lives, including over 285,000 in the U.S., the highest toll of any country. U.S. Food and Drug Administration scientists are meeting on Thursday, when the agency’s independent advisers will debate if the evidence is strong enough to recommend vaccinating millions of Americans.

“It is encouraging to see that our mRNA vaccine is now authorized in Canada. Following U.K. and Bahrain, it is the third country to approve use of our vaccine within a week,” said Sean Marett, BioNTech’s chief business and chief commercial officer.

U.S. FDA scientists reanalyzed data and found the Pfizer vaccine appears safe and more than 90% effective across patients of different ages, races and underlying health conditions.

Health Canada said the vaccine is for use in people 16 years of age or older, but noted Pfizer and BioNTech are running further clinical trials on children of all age groups and that could change.

Britain’s medical regulator warned Wednesday that people with a history of serious allergic reactions for the time being shouldn’t receive vaccine from Pfizer and BioNTech. Sharma said Health Canada is only advising people with allergies to the ingredients in the vaccine to avoid it, but said the agency will will review information out of the U.K. and decide whether to expand that advice.

« Previous