Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister has announced the government has agreed to purchase two million doses of a new Canadian researched and Manitoba produced mRNA COVID-19 vaccine currently undergoing clinical trials.  He says we are reliant on the federal government buying vaccines from pharmaceutical companies located offshore with the result Canadians receive needed vaccines slower than 50 other counties.  He noted this vaccine will provide insurance against COVID, insurance against sickness, its insurance potentially against death, insurance against COVID closures, insurance against COVID economic loss, insurance against another pandemic, insurance against another year like we just went through.

The first clinical trials are underway with the second round anticipated to begin this spring and Health Canada approval is expected later this year.  The agreement will ensure Manitoba receives the first 200 thousand doses as soon as it is approved for sale in Canada.