10 December
Canadian health authorities have approved the COVID-19 vaccine developed by Pfizer of the United States and Germany's BioNTech.
Health Canada said on Wednesday that it approved the vaccine after screening based on provisional standards for drugs and vaccines for the coronavirus.
It also said the vaccine meets its stringent safety requirements, and that the review process was "rigorous."
The authorities said that after the inoculation starts among people aged 16 or older, officials will closely monitor the vaccine's safety and will not hesitate to take actions if any concerns are identified.
Canadian media say the country is expected to receive up to 249,000 doses this month, and the first batch is set to arrive as early as next week.
Britain authorized the vaccine earlier this month, and vaccination has already begun. Bahrain became the second country to approve it. US regulators will likely finish their screening soon for emergency use.
NHK
