Pfizer facility tornado damage: Notice
Date published: August 3, 2023
Date updated: May 28, 2024
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UPDATE: May 28 2024 – Production resumes
The immediate impacts to Pfizer’s North Carolina facility from the tornado have been remediated.
Commercial production for all drug products has resumed and Pfizer has begun to deliver the impacted drug products to Canada.
Background
On July 19, 2023, a tornado damaged Pfizer's Rocky Mount, North Carolina, facility. This site supplies drugs to Canada and most of these drugs are administered by health care providers to patients in hospitals.
As soon as we learned about the tornado, we worked with Pfizer to:
- assess the impact on Canada's hospitals and their patients
- determine which drugs may be in short supply and for how long
Pfizer said that over-the-counter drugs purchased directly by consumers at retail or prescription drugs dispensed at community pharmacies were not affected.
Pfizer notified health care providers in hospitals, distributors and provincial and territorial ministries of health of the immediate expected impacts.
Customers, such as hospitals, were also able to order or purchase limited amounts of the affected drugs for their patients. This measure prevented drug products from being stockpiled. It also ensures that products are distributed fairly.
What we’re doing
We share the concerns that many people in Canada may have about the impact of the tornado damage on the drugs they rely on. We worked hard to address the situation and avoid a disruption in supplies.
Health Canada does not manage the supply chain of medications. However, we do play a leadership role in bringing together stakeholders throughout the supply chain to prevent and reduce shortages and ensure effective communications around shortages of concern.
We will continue to work with all our partners, including hospitals and health care professional associations, to lessen any potential impacts to patient care, the health care system and people in Canada.
As always, ensuring people have access to the drugs they need when they need them is our top priority. We will continue to keep you informed.