Health Canada to announce approval of Johnson and Johnson COVID-19 vaccine

Health Canada is set to announce approval of the COVID-19 vaccine from Johnson and Johnson this morning, according to multiple sources.

The federal regulator has found the evidence shows the vaccine is both safe and effective against the virus that causes COVID-19.

It is the fourth vaccine to be approved in Canada and the first and only one Canada has purchased that requires just a single dose.

It is officially produced by a subsidiary, Janssen Pharmaceuticals.

Canada has pre-purchased 10 million doses, with options to buy another 28 million.

Joelle Paquette, the director general for vaccines at Public Services and Procurement Canada, says the 10 million doses are to arrive by September.

However it’s not expected that any will flow to Canada until at least April.

Delivery schedules are not confirmed publicly until Health Canada’s regulatory review team gives a vaccine its seal of approval.

The United States became the first jurisdiction to approve Johnson and Johnson’s vaccine on Feb. 26.