Skip to Main content

6.66°^C Vancouver

News Entertainment Videos Shows Podcast Contact Us

Jan 13, 2022 11:13 PM - The Canadian Press

Health Canada 7 to 10 days from decision on Pfizer antiviral drug

Share On

health-canada-7-to-10-days-from-decision-on-pfizer-antiviral-drug

Health Canada's chief medical adviser says a decision on Pfizer's antiviral treatment for COVID-19 is expected in seven to 10 days. (Photo - The Canadian Press)

Health Canada's chief medical adviser says a decision on Pfizer's antiviral treatment for COVID-19 is expected in seven to 10 days.

But Supriya Sharma says the department reached out to Pfizer asking for shipments of the drug before approval, using regulations that allow medications approved elsewhere to be used in Canada when there is an urgent health need.

Sharma says the company said no because it didn't have any supply to send.

Canada has a contract to buy one million doses of Paxlovid but Pfizer spokeswoman Christina Antoniou says information on shipments to Canada won't be provided until Health Canada approves the drug.

The United States and the United Kingdom approved the antiviral in December and several Canadian doctors want Canada to immediately give the drug the go ahead here as the surging Omicron variant strains hospitals yet again.

Sharma says Pfizer's initial submission to Canada for approval on Dec. 1 was incomplete and more data was still coming in within the last week but she expects a decision will be made as early as next week.

Latest news

police-investigate-early-morning-shooting-at-cloverdale-business

Police investigate early-morning shooting at Cloverdale business

Police in Surrey are investigating an early-morning shooting that damaged a commercial property in the Cloverdale area, with no injuries reported. According to a Surrey Police Service news release, officers with the RCMP Surrey Provincial Operations Support Unit responded at about 3:35 a.m. to reports of gunfire in the 5400 block of Production Boulevard. Attending officers found a business that had sustained damage. No one was hurt in the incident, police said. The RCMP SPOSU General Investigation Unit has taken over the file. Investigators say the case remains in its early stages and evidence

alberta-premier-expresses-condolences-after-air-canada-express-crash-in-new-york

AlbertaMar 23, 2026

Alberta premier expresses condolences after Air Canada Express crash in New York

Danielle Smith says she is extending condolences to the families of those killed following a crash involving an Air Canada Express flight in New York City. In a statement, Smith said she shares sympathies with the families of the victims and wished a speedy recovery to those injured in the incident. According to Air Canada, the aircraft was carrying 72 passengers and four crew members at the time of the crash, which occurred late Sunday after arriving in New York. The airline said both the pilot and co-pilot were killed. Both were identified as Canadian. U.S. authorities said 41 people were tr

federal-audit-flags-gaps-in-international-student-program-oversight-thousands-of-cases-uninvestigated

CanadaMar 23, 2026

Federal audit flags gaps in international student program oversight, thousands of cases uninvestigated

Canada’s auditor general says there are significant weaknesses in how the federal government monitors compliance within the international student program, raising concerns about oversight and enforcement. In a report released Monday, Auditor General Karen Hogan found that roughly 150,000 cases in 2023 and 2024 were flagged for potential non-compliance with study permit conditions, according to the audit of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. Despite the volume of flagged cases, the report says only about 4,000 investigations were initiated. Of those, approximately 1,600 were deemed

b-c-lifts-all-flood-advisories-as-river-levels-recede-after-heavy-rainfall

B.C. lifts all flood advisories as river levels recede after heavy rainfall

All flood advisories across southern British Columbia have been lifted following several days of heavy rainfall linked to an atmospheric river system, according to the B.C. River Forecast Centre. In an update issued Sunday, the centre said there are no active flood advisories remaining, and water levels are continuing to recede after widespread rain and snowmelt. The agency noted that while some larger and lake-fed river systems remain elevated, flows are expected to ease through the week. The centre added that forecast precipitation midweek could lead to minor and temporary increases in small

AlbertaMar 23, 2026

Calgary truck driver to be sentenced in U.S. child luring case following Idaho sting

A Calgary truck driver convicted in the United States after an online child luring sting is scheduled to be sentenced next month, according to court records. The 41-year-old man pleaded guilty in February to a charge of luring a minor, stemming from an investigation led by an undercover detective in Idaho. According to court proceedings, the officer posed as a 14-year-old girl during online conversations with the accused. Court heard the man directed the fictional girl to call him “Daddy” and sent sexually suggestive messages before arranging to meet at a truck stop south of Idaho Falls in

Related News

Federal audit flags gaps in international student program oversight, thousands of cases uninvestigated

Federal audit flags gaps in international student program oversight, thousands of cases uninvestigated

Canada’s auditor general says there are significant weaknesses in how the federal government monitors compliance within the international student program, raising concerns about oversight and enforcement. In a report released Monday, Auditor General Karen Hogan found that roughly 150,000 cases in 2023 and 2024 were flagged for potential non-compliance with study permit conditions, according to the audit of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. Despite the volume of flagged cases, the report says only about 4,000 investigations were initiated. Of those, approximately 1,600 were deemed

Supreme Court of Canada hears challenge to Quebec’s Bill 21 on religious symbols

Supreme Court of Canada hears challenge to Quebec’s Bill 21 on religious symbols

The Supreme Court of Canada began hearings Monday into a legal challenge against Quebec’s controversial secularism law, commonly known as Bill 21, which restricts certain public-sector workers from wearing religious symbols while on duty. The law, introduced by François Legault’s Coalition Avenir Québec government in June 2019, applies to positions including police officers, teachers and judges. It was enacted using Section 33 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, also known as the notwithstanding clause, which allows governments to override certain Charter protections. Accordi

Two pilots dead after Air Canada Express aircraft collides with fire truck at LaGuardia Airport

Two pilots dead after Air Canada Express aircraft collides with fire truck at LaGuardia Airport

An Air Canada Express aircraft arriving from Montreal was involved in a runway collision at LaGuardia Airport late Sunday night, leaving both pilots dead and dozens of passengers injured, according to airline and U.S. officials. The flight, AC8646, operated by Jazz Aviation, landed around 11:30 p.m. when it struck a Port Authority fire truck near the runway. Authorities said the vehicle had been responding to a separate emergency call at the time of the collision. According to air traffic control recordings, the fire vehicle was initially cleared to cross part of the tarmac. Controllers later

Legals

Journalism code of ethics

© 2021 AKASH Broadcasting Inc.

MANAGED BY STRATWIT

useful links

Accessibility Plan

BC Children's Hospital