Health Canada has announced its approval of Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine.
After reviewing the clinical trial data, the vaccine was found to be 94.1% effective.
Earlier this month Health Canada approved the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine and have already distributed the vaccine across the country.
There are some similarities between the Moderna vaccine and Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. Both require two doses for maximum immunity and they both use mRNA technology.
The major difference is how the vaccines are stored. Moderna’s vaccine can be stored at -20 degrees Celcius while being transferred and then remains stable at 2 to 8 degrees after thawing, for 30 days. The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine needs to be stored at -70 degrees Celcius until its destination when it can then be stored for 5 days at 2-8 degrees.
Up to 168-thousand doses are due to arrive in Canada before the end of the month and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has said deliveries could begin within 48 hours of approval.
