Sunday, Health Canada issued a statement saying it is aware of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's recent inspection of the Emergent BioSolutions facility in Baltimore, Maryland, which noted multiple areas of concern, but that all AstraZeneca vaccines imported into Canada from this facility are safe and of high quality. Janssen vaccines produced at this site have not entered the country, stated the release.
“Health Canada has verified that the 1.5 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccine imported into Canada from this facility meet quality specifications. The Department reviewed test results of all vaccine lots that came into Canada, as well as the company's quality control steps implemented throughout the manufacturing process to mitigate potential risks of contamination,” said the release.
Janssen vaccines anticipated to come into the country next week do not come from this facility, the release added.
“Whether a drug or vaccine is manufactured domestically or abroad, Health Canada verifies that both the formulation and the facilities that make them comply with Canada's high standards before approving them for the Canadian market.”
