PM Trudeau optimistic, government's timeline for getting a vaccine to every Canadian who wants one can be accelerated

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is expressing optimism that his government's timeline for getting a vaccine into the arm of every Canadian who wants one can be accelerated.

He says the federal government's September timeline didn't factor in the arrival of new vaccines such as the Oxford-AstraZeneca shot, which was approved last week.

Trudeau notes that a change in the public health guidance regarding the time allowed between the first and second doses of a vaccine could also affect Canada's rollout.

Health officials in B-C and Newfoundland and Labrador have said they are extending that interval to four months, while other provinces are still considering it.

Canada has received its first 500,000 doses of the shot, the third COVID-19 vaccine approved for use in the country.