PM Trudeau has been assured of timely delivery of vaccines; Anand says, September deadline could be moved up if more vaccines are approved

Canada's anxiety-laden COVID-19 vaccine programs are facing further threats as Europe warns drug makers it might impose export controls on European-made vaccine doses.

But Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he has received assurances that all vaccines Canada has contracted for, will be delivered on schedule.

All of Canada's current vaccine doses from Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna are made in Europe.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen says Europe will set up a "vaccine export transparency mechanism" so it knows exactly how many doses are being produced in the bloc and where they are being shipped.

"September deadline for inoculating the vast majority of Canadians against COVID-19 could be moved up"

Federal Procurement Minister Anita Anand says that the September deadline for inoculating the vast majority of Canadians against COVID-19 could be moved up if more vaccines are approved for use in Canada.

Anand says she is asking two companies in particular, AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson, whether they can have their vaccines in Canada ready for delivery, before approvals are given from Health Canada.