(Corbis Bay) Canada has donated 13 million surplus vaccines to help poor countries fight COVID-19.
The commitment was announced by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at the conclusion of the G7 Summit in England on Sunday. The epidemic, climate change and China have been dominating the conference agenda for the past two days.
Canada has previously said it will provide the world with 100 million doses of the vaccine against the spread of COVID-19. It is the only country that does not really separate financial aid from the exact doses that are distributed abroad.
Mr Trudeau pointed out that Canada pays for the 87 million vaccines to be distributed in poor countries through the Accelerator Act program, which aims to accelerate the development and production of diagnostic products, therapies and COVID-19 vaccines and ensure equivalent access to them.
He said some of these doses were already going to their foreign destinations, but could not say how many more would be shipped.
“We are already in the process of sharing these vaccines with Kovacs,” he replied. We continue to receive vaccines that we do not need. As Canadians are increasingly getting vaccinated, we can share with the world. ”
According to a document circulated by the Prime Minister’s Office, more than seven million doses come from the pharmaceutical company Novovax, whose vaccine has not yet been approved in the country.
As for other vaccines, Canada takes them from Kovacs in doses purchased from Johnson & Johnson and Oxford-Astrogenica, a vaccine partnership program implemented by the World Health Organization.
Some have criticized Canada for being the only G7 country to use doses from Kovacs at home.
U.S. President Joe Biden has pledged to deliver 80 million doses, while Summit Host UK has pledged to deliver at least 100 million doses next year. Japan, Germany, Italy and France have also pledged to distribute millions of doses of the vaccine.
Mr Trudeau stressed that the donation would not affect vaccine campaigns in Canada, which came in millions of doses after the arrival of Pfizer-BioMtech and somewhat modern.
“This international commitment is in addition and parallel to the vaccines here. We receive millions of doses every week. Every day more and more people are getting their first and second doses.”
Canada receives over 100 million doses a year, more than it needs to give its population nearly two doses of nearly 38 million.
Compete with China
G7 leaders call the new global infrastructure investment plan “Make the World Better”, which requires private-sector cooperation.
The program competes with China’s “New Silk Roads” and offers a range of projects to countries in Asia and Africa. Some critics have accused Beijing of wanting to create huge debts for itself in order to pursue a “forced diplomacy”.
Mr. Trudeau did not explicitly mention the Chinese initiative or the treatment of minorities in that country, such as the Muslim Uyghurs. However, he thanked his G7 colleagues for supporting Canada’s insistence on the release of his two citizens, Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavar.
“The unilateral detention of two Michaels is of concern not only to Canada, but to all countries in the world,” he said. The use of arbitrary detention and coercive diplomacy is of concern. We are united in emphasizing our disagreement with China on this policy. ”
Huawei company executive Meng Wanzhou was arrested by Chinese authorities two days after he was arrested at Vancouver airport at the request of the United States.
When asked if China has been described as hostile, Trudeau was keen to emphasize the need for both countries to meet the challenge of climate change. He noted that China was a trade rival and a source of concern for human rights.
Trudeau, who will travel to Belgium to attend the NATO summit, has announced that he will raise several billion dollars in additional funds to help poor countries fight climate change.
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