Vaccination news in canada

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Canada Authorizes AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 Vaccine
By Carolyn Crist

— Health Canada, the country’s health regulatory agency, approved the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine for all adults ages 18 and older on Friday.

Two versions were authorized — one manufactured by AstraZeneca and developed by the University of Oxford, and the Serum Institute of India’s version of the vaccine. Canada has previously authorized the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines.

“This is very encouraging news. It means more people vaccinated, and sooner,” Justin Trudeau, the prime minister of Canada, said during a news conference.

Canada will receive 6.5 million COVID-19 vaccines before the end of March, the AP reported, including 500,000 AstraZeneca doses from the Serum Institute. The country has ordered 22 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine in total, which will arrive between April and September.

AstraZeneca’s vaccine clinical trials showed 62% efficacy, according to Health Canada, which appears to offer less protection than the other COVID-19 vaccines. However, public health officials have said any vaccine with 50% efficacy or higher could help bring an end to the pandemic.