Question Period Note: Procurement of vaccines

Public Services and Procurement Canada is working with the Public Health Agency of Canada, Health Canada and Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, along with the COVID Vaccine Task Force to procure COVID-19 vaccines, therapeutic drugs, and related supplies.

Notes:

• All questions regarding the regulatory review of vaccines should be directed to Health Canada.
• All vaccine and therapeutic health-related questions and questions about allocation and distribution should be directed to Public Health Agency of Canada
• All questions on donations should be directed to Global Affairs Canada and Public Health Agency of Canada
• All questions regarding the domestic manufacturing of vaccines should be directed to Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada
• All questions regarding the rejection of Medicago by WHO should be directed to Health Canada and Public Health Agency of Canada
• All questions regarding vaccine expiration should be directed to the Public Health Agency of Canada

• The Government of Canada is committed to protecting the health and safety of everyone in Canada from COVID-19. Since the beginning of the pandemic, the government has worked closely with vaccine suppliers to secure access to safe and effective vaccines
  • Since July 2021, Canada has maintained a steady supply of vaccines for every eligible person who wants one. As of November 10, 2022, Canada has received 161.3 million vaccine doses
  • We continue to work with the Public Health Agency of Canada and suppliers on delivery schedules to maintain a steady and sufficient supply of vaccines
  • We are continuing to evolve our vaccine procurement strategy based on the best scientific advice available, which includes working with vaccine suppliers to secure new formulations for variants, boosters and pediatrics as they become available and are approved by Health Canada

If pressed on vaccine contracts and deliveries:

• Canada has secured future supply with Moderna and Pfizer that will provide access to a range of products as required, including pediatrics and boosters and the latest approved adaptations of vaccines
• Both Pfizer and Moderna have developed bivalent vaccines that are expected to be effective for multiple COVID variants
• We have secured access to 12 million doses of bivalent vaccine from Moderna, which received approval on September 1, 2022, as a booster dose for those aged 18 years and above. As of November 1, Canada has received a supply of 10.5 million Moderna BA.1 bivalent booster doses and 11.6 million Pfizer BA.4/5 bivalent booster doses.
• Canada is also working with Pfizer to establish a delivery schedule of Pfizer’s bivalent vaccine once approved

If pressed on additional pediatric vaccines:

• Health Canada has provided regulatory approval for pediatric vaccines for Pfizer for children ages 5 to 11 years old as well as 6 months to 4 years old, and for Moderna for children ages 6 to 11 years old as well as 6 months to 5 years old
• Additionally, Health Canada has authorized Pfizer’s pediatric vaccine as a first booster for children ages 5 to 11 years
• As of November 1, Canada has a supply of 3.2 million doses of Moderna monovalent mRNA vaccine that can be used for adults (12 years and older) or children ages 5 to 11 years

If pressed on additional adolescent vaccines:

• Health Canada is currently reviewing Novavax’s submission for its adolescent vaccine for children ages 12 to 17 years, and Moderna’s submission for its adolescent booster vaccine for children ages 12 to 17 years

If pressed on delivery of pediatric doses:

• Canada has received a supply of 1 million doses of Moderna vaccine for children ages 6 months to 5 years. Supplies are expected to be more than sufficient to meet needs
• Canada has a supply of 6.7 million doses of Moderna vaccine as of September 2, 2022, that can be used for both adults (12 years and above) or for children ages 5 to 11 years based on their respective approved dose volumes. Supplies are expected to be more than sufficient to meet needs
• Canada has a supply of 1.65 million doses of Pfizer pediatric vaccine as of September 2, 2022, that can be used as a primary series or a first booster for children ages 5 to 11 years. Supplies are expected to be more than sufficient to meet needs
• Canada has secured access to 1.08 million doses of Pfizer’s pediatric vaccine for children ages 6 months to 5 years old for delivery in fall 2022

If pressed on Pfizer supply:

• Public Services and Procurement Canada has an agreement with Pfizer to supply vaccines, which has been updated since October 2020 as requirements evolved, to best meet the needs of Canadians
• In 2021, 55 million doses were delivered to Canada. Canada updated the agreement for supply to continue for 2022 and 2023, for a total order of 65 million doses for these years. Of these 65 million doses, 18.4 million have already been delivered
• The current agreement also includes options for additional dose purchases, for up to 30 million additional doses for 2022, up to 30 million additional doses in 2023, and to extend the supply into 2024 for up to 60 million additional doses, if required
• To date, Canada has exercised options for 3 million additional doses in 2022, with
  27 million optional doses remaining. The remaining options for 2023 and 2024 have not been exercised, but are available should the need arise
• This agreement will ensure that Canada has access to future supply of a range of products, including pediatrics and boosters and latest approved vaccine adaptations

If pressed on Moderna supply:

• Public Services and Procurement Canada has an agreement with Moderna to supply vaccines, which has been updated since July 2020 as requirements evolved, to best meet the needs of Canadians
• In 2021, 34.9 million doses were delivered to Canada. Canada updated the agreement for supply to continue for 2022 and 2023, for a total order of 40 million doses for these years. Of these 40 million doses, 14.6 million have been delivered
• The current agreement also includes options for additional dose purchases, for up to 15 million additional doses for 2022, up to 15 million additional doses in 2023, and to extend the supply into 2024 for up to 35 million additional doses
• To date, Canada has exercised options for 4.5 million additional doses in 2022, with 10.5 million optional doses remaining, and advanced the delivery of 1.5 million doses from the 2023 order, leaving 18.5 million available. The remaining options for 2023 and 2024 have not been exercised, but are available should the need arise
• Of note, these 6 million additional doses are included in the total 12 million doses expected in Fall of 2022 of Moderna’s new bivalent vaccine which is effective against the Omicron variant, and recently approved by Health Canada
• This agreement will ensure that Canada has access to future supply of a range of products, including pediatrics and boosters and latest approved adaptations

If pressed on future Novavax supply and domestic delivery:

• Public Services and Procurement Canada has an agreement with Novavax to supply vaccines, which has been updated since January 2021 as requirements evolved, to best meet the needs of Canadians
• Through this agreement, Canada secured an order of 52 million doses for 2022 and 2023, with options for 24 million additional dose. Of these, 6.4 million doses have been delivered. We are working closely with PHAC and Novavax to plan the schedule for deliveries of remaining doses for 2022
• In February 2021, the Government of Canada announced it had signed a memorandum of understanding with Novavax to pursue the production of its COVID-19 vaccine at the National Research Council of Canada’s Biologics Manufacturing Centre in Montréal. The existing supply agreement enables the government to pursue opportunities for Novavax to produce their COVID-19 vaccine at this facility once it is operational

If pressed on future Medicago Supply:

• Public Services and Procurement Canada has an agreement with Medicago to supply 20 million doses in 2022, with options for 28 million doses in 2023 and 28 million doses in 2024. The delivery schedule is currently being reviewed

If pressed on the release of vaccine contracts:

• The Government of Canada is committed to transparency and accountability, and has publicly disclosed contracting information to the fullest extent possible that is permitted by contract and law
• This includes working with vaccine suppliers to secure their agreement on publicly releasable versions of Canada’s vaccine contracts, while respecting our confidentiality agreements and protecting our negotiating position

If pressed on the details of advance purchase agreements:

• We continue to seek opportunities to be as transparent as possible about our procurements in support of Canada’s COVID-19 response, while respecting confidentiality agreements and protecting our negotiating position
• Every contract is different as they reflect specific requests and requirements put forth by the supplier
• Public Services and Procurement Canada has worked with its vaccine suppliers to secure their agreement on publicly releasable versions of Canada’s vaccine contracts
• These documents fully respect the Access to Information Act, therefore information that is commercially confidential or that could impact Canada’s ability to negotiate future contracts has been protected
• As we have throughout the pandemic, Public Services and Procurement Canada will continue to openly communicate with Canadians about the work we are doing to support Canada’s pandemic response

Overall, the federal government has allocated over $9 billion for vaccine, therapeutic and prophylactic procurement. The Public Health Agency of Canada is responsible for managing this funding.

Pfizer, Moderna, Novavax, Medicago, AstraZeneca, and Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) vaccines have been approved to prevent COVID-19. Sanofi started the regulatory submission process for its primary COVID-19 vaccine.

The Government of Canada has signed agreements with the following companies to access their vaccines and vaccine candidates:

• Pfizer, supplied 55 million doses of its mRNA vaccine Comirnaty in 2020 and 2021, which included 4 million pediatric doses. Agreement is in place for further supply of up to 185 million doses, including options, from 2022 to 2024, with 18.4 million delivered and 15.5 million remaining for 2022
• Moderna supplied 34.9 million doses of its mRNA vaccine Spikevax in 2021. Agreement is in place for further supply of up to 105 million doses, including options, from 2022 to 2024, with 14.6 million delivered and 12 million remaining for 2022
• Novavax agreement in place for supply of its protein subunit vaccine Nuvaxovid®, for up to 76 million doses, including options, between 2022 and 2024, with 6.4 million delivered and 9.6 million remaining for 2022
• Medicago, for a firm order of 20 million doses, plus options for up to 52 million between 2022 and 2024 of its plant-derived Coronavirus Virus-Like Particle vaccine
• AstraZeneca agreement for 20 million doses of the viral vector vaccine Vaxzevria. In 2021, Canada received 3.8 million doses and no additional orders are planned at this time. The remaining surplus doses have been offered for donation through COVAX or are now expiring as no recipient countries were found
• Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) agreement for up to 10 million doses of its viral vector vaccine Jcovden. In 2021, Canada received 188,000 doses, and additional orders are not planned at this time. The remaining 9.8 million doses are stored with the manufacturer and have been offered for donation through COVAX
• Sanofi and GSK agreement for 6.2 million doses of their protein subunit vaccine candidate, subject to regulatory approval
• Serum Institute of India/Verity Pharmaceuticals, which supplied 500,000 doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine produced under license and marketed as COVISHIELD. This agreement is now completed and additional orders are not planned

Donations

Canada’s seven main agreements with vaccine suppliers allow for donations to be made when doses are deemed surplus in-country. PSPC supports Global Affairs Canada and Public Health Agency of Canada on the donation of surplus doses through its agreements with suppliers through direct donations and the COVAX Facility.

Canada signed an agreement on September 18, 2020, to participate in the COVAX Facility, which supports equitable global access to safe, effective, and affordable COVID-19 vaccines. Through this agreement Canada has committed to being a global leader in supporting equitable global access to safe, effective, and affordable COVID-19 vaccines. We have committed to donating the equivalent of at least 200 million doses to COVAX by the end of 2022. So far, Canada has donated the equivalent of 140 million doses, with more to come. This includes over 50 million doses deemed surplus from Canada's own supply and donated to COVAX, of which 23.3 million have been delivered to other countries.

Domestic production

As part of the Government of Canada’s efforts to build domestic biomanufacturing capacity in Canada in the long-term, the government announced in 2022 that Canada established a Memorandum of Understanding with Novavax to pursue the production of its COVID-19 vaccine at the National Research Council of Canada’s Biologics Manufacturing Centre in Montréal. The vaccine supply agreement with Novavax will support the ability to produce vaccines at this facility once ready.

Intellectual property

The default position of the Government of Canada in all its procurement contracts is that title to intellectual property remains with the contractor, which is set out in the Treasury Board Policy on Title to Intellectual Property Arising Under Crown Procurement Contracts. In the advance purchase agreements that Canada negotiated with vaccine manufacturers, the manufacturers retain the title to intellectual property and do not grant a license for Canada to use the intellectual property nor give Canada a right to use the intellectual property.

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