OTTAWA -- With the possibility for Canada to receive COVID-19 vaccines manufactured in India, India鈥檚 Prime Minister Narendra Modi says he told Prime Minister Justin Trudeau that his country will 鈥渄o its best鈥� to see shots sent to Canada.
Trudeau and Modi spoke on the phone on Wednesday about the two nations鈥� respective vaccine rollouts and the need for international co-ordination on securing supplies.
In a tweet, Modi said that on the call with Trudeau he 鈥渁ssured him that India would do its best to facilitate supplies of COVID vaccines sought by Canada.鈥�
The Serum Institute of India has a contract with AstraZeneca to produce doses of its vaccine, to 鈥渟upply India but also a large number of countries around the world,鈥� and Health Canada is currently reviewing the facilities鈥� the world鈥檚 largest vaccine manufacturer鈥攁s the health agency developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University for use in Canada.
Modi鈥檚 office said that Trudeau spoke with Modi about 鈥淐anada鈥檚 requirements鈥� of vaccines from India and thanked Modi for supporting Canada鈥檚 vaccination efforts, noting the role that the pharmaceutical capacity in India is playing in tackling COVID-19.
According to a readout issued by Trudeau鈥檚 office following the Wednesday call, the two leaders discussed 鈥淚ndia's significant efforts in promoting vaccine production and supply, which have provided vital support to countries around the world,鈥� and 鈥渁greed to work together on access to vaccines.鈥�
During a press conference earlier on Wednesday, Trudeau was asked about whether he had planned to reach out to Modi about ensuring supplies from India, and he spoke in generalities in response.
鈥淲e are continually in contact with our friends and allies around the world on the issues of vaccines, on the issue of fighting COVID. I can highlight that India has been a great partner in fighting COVID, whether it's helping us with delivery of other pharmaceuticals, or whether it's working together on potential vaccines,鈥� the prime minister said.
He went on to say the government is also in talks with vaccine manufacturers about ensuring 鈥渞eliable鈥� supplies of shipments and access to additional doses.
On Tuesday, Health Canada鈥檚 senior medical adviser Dr. Supriya Sharma said the agency was in the 鈥渇inal stages鈥� of reviewing the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine candidate.
Canada has secured access to 20 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine, as well as 1.9 million doses through the global vaccine-sharing initiative COVAX. It, like the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines, requires two doses.
While Wednesday鈥檚 exchange included friendly language from both nations, Canada-India relations have been strained at times over the last few years, including as a result of Trudeau鈥檚 troubled 2018 India trip. In December, the prime minister came under fire from politicians in India for defending farmers鈥� right to peacefully protest in response to new laws passed by Modi鈥檚 government.
The readout from Trudeau鈥檚 office said that the two world leaders discussed the protests, 鈥淚ndia鈥檚 commitment to democratic principles,鈥� and 鈥渢he importance of resolving issues through dialogue.鈥�
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 10, 2021.
