Trudeau Announces Moderna Vaccine: Says Canadians Should NOT Be Travelling
December 23, 2020 Jim Byers
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau today announced the approval of the Moderna vaccine for use in Canada, but said this doesn’t mean Canadians should be heading to the airport any time soon.
He also announced a two-week extension to the ban on flights to Canada from the UK because of a new strain of the coronavirus that has hit the United Kingdom.
Speaking at a press event in Ottawa, Trudeau said that now “is not the time for a vacation abroad. Even if you travel every winter, please rethink your plans.”
Trudeau said Canadian airports shouldn’t be busy over the holidays.
“The situation is very serious,” he said. “By staying home, and following public health rules, you can be part of the solution.”
Trudeau also announced the two week extension on flights to Canada from the UK, a measure that was first announced on Sunday and was due to expire in 72 hours.
The best news for the long-term travel picture is that the Moderna vaccine is headed to Canada.
The CBC reports that Health Canada has approved Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine for use in this country, with 168,000 doses expected to arrive by end of the year.
The network also said that Canada might have 1.2 million doses of vaccine from Moderna and Pfizer by Jan. 31, 2021.
The federal department announced the approval on Wednesday after completing a review of the Massachusetts-based biotechnology company’s clinical trial data.
“The data provided supports favourably the efficacy of the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine as well as its safety,” Health Canada said in a notice authorizing use of the vaccine for people over the age of 18.
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