While there has been some progress with the various vaccines for the COVID-19 pandemic here in Canada, the rollout is far too slow overall.
There are encouraging signs with the rollout in First Nations communities. Here in our region many people have been able to access the vaccine in their communities. A lot of credit goes to community leaders and health care workers for everything they have been doing to make his happen.
Elsewhere in the North many people are waiting for the vaccine because of limited supply. Overall the rollout in Manitoba has been one of the slowest in Canada.
The problem. Lack of supply. The lesson is clear. The federal government needs to make sure Canada has the capacity to manufacture vaccines and critical medicines for Canadians here at home.
This pandemic has shown that Canadians shouldn’t be forced to rely on production in other countries in emergencies. As a result of not being prepared, the Liberal government will be forcing Canadians to wait even longer for a vaccine to protect against COVID-19.
Investing in public manufacturing and distribution of vaccines and critical medicine here in Canada would have helped protect Canadians from COVID-19 and help them through the pandemic and future health crises.
Previous Conservative and Liberal governments privatized labs and vaccine manufacturers leaving Canadians on the hook without access to a vaccine and critical medicines. The Liberals handed billion-dollar contracts to big pharmaceutical companies and failed to make sure vaccines needed to protect people from COVID-19 can be made here in Canada. While other countries like Australia, the U.S. and the U.K. can manufacture their own vaccines to protect their residents, Canada is missing in action.
The federal Liberals have repeatedly shown that they are on the side of big pharmaceutical corporations, not the people who need help.
Investing in producing vaccines and critical medications here at home will make sure we’re prepared for emergencies in the future.
