Pfizer Says British Columbia Flooding Causes COVID-19 Vaccine Delivery Delays | The Canadian News

The devastating floods in British Columbia are delaying deliveries of Pfizer Canada products, including the company’s COVID-19 vaccine.

“Weather conditions have caused an unfortunate delay in the delivery of our drugs to British Columbia,” said Pfizer. he said on Twitter Thursday.

“We are working to ensure that the supply chain has a sufficient inventory of critical products for patients.”

The pharmaceutical company said in an email to Global News that it is confident the supply chain has “sufficient inventory to get critical products to patients,” but that it is collaborating with third-party distributors on “mitigation plans” for delays that affect their COVID-19. vaccine.

The company said wholesalers have inventory in British Columbia to meet immediate needs for now.

Global News asked Pfizer Canada to clarify the length of the delays and when they are expected to be resolved, but those questions were left unanswered.

This news comes on the heels of reports, confirmed by Global News, that Health Canada on Friday will green light Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5 to 11, a demographic that has yet to be vaccinated and plays a key role in controlling the pandemic before winter.

The new vaccine is specially formulated for younger children, with smaller doses intended to reduce pain, discomfort, and side effects. In other words, it is different in amount than what is currently given to adults.

Pfizer Canada told Global News that it has not yet shipped any pediatric doses of the vaccine to Canada, as the vaccine is still awaiting formal approval from Health Canada.

BC’s chief doctor, Bonnie Henry, warned of “challenges” to COVID-19 vaccination efforts in light of the flooding earlier this week.

He said the road closures have prompted health officials to take “alternative measures” to deliver vaccines to some communities.

“We received our shipment from [Johnson & Johnson] the vaccine on Friday, and there were some delays in its entry to the Interior in recent days, but it has already arrived, “he said on Tuesday.

“We have alternative ways to bring vaccines to communities and clinics continue in many communities.”

British Columbia Prime Minister John Horgan declared a state of emergency in response to flooding and landslides that began Sunday after record rains soaked much of southern British Columbia for more than 48 hours.

At least one person has been confirmed dead in a landslide that swept vehicles off a highway near Pemberton, and the search for more victims continues. In the Fraser Valley, flooding has left much of the region under water, reportedly killing thousands of farm animals in what authorities have called an agricultural disaster.

—With files from Canadian Press and Global BC