Vaccines and treatments for COVID-19: Vaccine rollout

On this page

• Producing a vaccine
• Securing enough vaccine
• Vaccination for COVID-19
• Groups that will get the vaccine first
• Distributing vaccines
  • Total COVID-19 vaccine distribution
  • Pfizer vaccine forecasted allocation
  • Moderna vaccine forecasted allocation
• Videos, posters and infographics to share

Producing a vaccine

Producing a vaccine is complex. It requires significant investments to ensure it can be produced on a large scale with good quality and consistency. Our investments in research will help make sure Canada has faster access to safe and effective vaccines.

Manufacturers manage the process for vaccine production.

Both private and large public investments from governments around the world are being put toward research and development of COVID-19 vaccines.

This partnership between private industry and the public can lead to more affordable and ground-breaking health products for Canada.

Securing enough vaccine

On December 9, 2020, we authorized the first vaccine in Canada for the prevention of COVID-19. Find out about COVID-19 vaccines that are authorized in Canada.

We’re working to make sure everyone in Canada has access to these vaccines as quickly as possible. This includes working with provinces and territories, as they’re responsible for planning and running vaccination programs. The advance purchase agreements we’ve signed will help us reach this goal.

We’re investing in a large selection of vaccines and working hard to make sure vaccine doses are available as quickly as possible after authorization. But it will take time before there’s enough vaccine for everyone in Canada. This is why we've working on recommendations for priority populations for the first doses of the vaccines with the:

• provinces and territories and
• National Advisory Committee on Immunization

The Government of Canada will also provide additional support for:

• securing storage facilities
• getting supplies (like needles, swabs and gauze)
• helping with distribution across the country

Vaccination for COVID-19

COVID-19 vaccines approved for use in Canada are free. They're available to priority populations first. They'll then be available to everyone in Canada who is recommended to get the vaccine by federal, provincial and territorial public health authorities.

This applies to:

• everyone in Canada, including those who aren't citizens and who are over the:
  • age of 16 for the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine
  • age of 18 for the Moderna vaccine
• diplomatic staff based in Canada and their dependants, and locally engaged staff at Canadian missions abroad
• Canadian Armed Forces personnel that are on active duty abroad

Vaccination is one of the most effective ways to:

• prevent the spread
• reduce the impact of infectious diseases
• protect us against COVID-19

Groups that will get the vaccine first

Priority for early COVID-19 vaccination will be given to the following populations:

• residents and staff of shared living settings who provide care for seniors
• adults 70 years of age and older, with order of priority:
  1. beginning with adults 80 years of age and older
  2. decreasing the age limit by 5-year increments to age 70 years as supply becomes available
• health care workers who have direct contact with patients, including:
  • those who work in health care settings
  • personal support workers
• adults in Indigenous communities

As additional COVID-19 vaccine(s) and supplies become available, the following populations should be offered vaccinations:

• health care workers not included in the initial rollout.
• residents and staff of all other shared living settings, such as:
  • homeless shelters
  • correctional facilities
  • housing for migrant workers
• essential workers who face additional risks to maintain services for the functioning of society

Local vaccination rollout plans

Provinces and territories have developed detailed vaccination rollout plans for their residents.

Vaccinations in your province or territory

Go to the vaccine page for your province or territory

• Alberta
• British Columbia
• Manitoba
• New Brunswick
• Newfoundland and Labrador
• Northwest Territories
• Nova Scotia
• Nunavut
• Ontario
• Prince Edward Island
• Quebec
• Saskatchewan
• Yukon

Distributing vaccines

COVID-19 vaccines will be available to everyone in Canada who are recommended to get the vaccine by federal, provincial and territorial public health bodies. Doses of the vaccines will be distributed in Canada in phases, which began in December 2020. Assuming the continued supply of safe and effective vaccines, it’s expected there will be enough vaccines to immunize everyone for whom vaccines are approved and recommended. We anticipate this will be accomplished by September of 2021.

The following table describes the quantities of COVID-19 vaccines that have been delivered to provinces and territories to date. The total vaccine confirmed distribution table will be updated weekly.

Please note: The table below doesn’t presently reflect the full delivery of Moderna vaccine doses forecasted for the week of 11 January, as shipments to provinces and territories are currently ongoing.

Total COVID-19 vaccine confirmed distribution as of January 14, 2021, at 12 pm ET

Vaccine distribution	Pfizer/BioNTech	Moderna	Total
Total distributed in Canada	588,900	176,200	765,100
Newfoundland and Labrador	8,775	2,400	11,175
Prince Edward Island	5,850	2,400	8,250
Nova Scotia	15,600	7,400	23,000
New Brunswick	12,675	5,100	17,775
Quebec	129,675	32,500	162,175
Ontario	224,250	52,800	277,050
Manitoba	26,325	7,300	33,625
Saskatchewan	19,500	4,900	24,400
Alberta	67,275	16,900	84,175
British Columbia	78,975	20,500	99,475
Yukon	0	7,200	7,200
Northwest Territories	0	7,200	7,200
Nunavut	0	6,000	6,000
Federal allocationFootnote 1	0	3,600	3,600
Footnotes Footnote 1 Federal allocation includes doses for Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), the Canadian Armed Forces and Correctional Service Canada Return to footnote 1 referrer

The following charts describe the allocations of vaccine that are forecasted to be available for provinces and territories over the next number of weeks. These charts are updated as the quantities of available vaccine and the timing of future deliveries are confirmed.

Forecasted allocation of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine to provinces and territories

Forecasted allocation of Moderna COVID-19 vaccine to provinces and territories

Distribution location	11-17 Jan	1-7 Feb	22-28 Feb
Total forecasted allocations	171,700	230,400	249,600
Newfoundland and Labrador	2,400	2,800	3,000
Prince Edward Island	1,200	1,200	1,200
Nova Scotia	3,700	5,400	5,900
New Brunswick	2,700	4,300	4,700
Quebec	34,000	47,400	51,800
Ontario	56,700	81,600	89,100
Manitoba	7,400	7,600	8,400
Saskatchewan	5,400	6,500	7,100
Alberta	17,100	24,600	27,000
British Columbia	20,700	28,600	31,000
Yukon	7,200	7,200	7,200
Northwest Territories	7,200	7,200	7,200
Nunavut	6,000	6,000	6,000

Videos, posters and infographics to share

• COVID-19: How vaccines are developed (video)
• Vaccine development and approval in Canada (infographic)
• What you need to know about the COVID-19 vaccine for Canada (poster)

Related links

• Canada's COVID-19 immunization plan
• Drugs and vaccines for COVID-19
• Regulating vaccines for human use in Canada
• COVID-19: International research and development

For health professionals

• Webinars on COVID-19 vaccines
• National Advisory Committee on Immunization
• Guidance on the prioritization of initial doses of COVID-19 vaccine(s)

For industry

• COVID-19 Vaccine Task Force
• Information and application requirements for drugs authorized under the Interim Order: Guidance document
• Guidance document: Management of drug submissions and applications