Moderna vaccines made at new Montreal-area plant will first go to Canadians, says CEO
The vaccine doses that will be produced in Moderna's new plant in Laval, Que., will go first to Canadians, the pharmaceutical company said.
At a news conference held Wednesday in Montreal, Moderna Canada President and CEO Patricia Gauthier confirmed that even if the plant aims to reach beyond Canada's borders, the population will benefit from an "assured supply" in the event of a future pandemic for treatments against respiratory diseases.
"From a manufacturing point of view, it is clear that what we are building here in Canada and in the Greater Montreal Area is to serve the Canadian population first. After that, we can see how we can optimize everything to contribute on a global scale as well," she said during a panel discussion with Michel Leblanc, president and CEO of the Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal.
Gauthier said she was "very proud" of the buzz her proposal for a plant in Canada has generated, noting that seven provinces had expressed interest in a possible construction project during the selection process.
Asked about the $25 million in subsidies put forward by the François Legault government, the lawyer by training said that economics was "not the only decisive criterion" that tipped the scales.
"It was really a combination of the components of the proposal and the ease of collaboration. We're already established with [McGill University] and we have discussions with the Université de Montréal, and the life sciences pool is very strong in Quebec," she said in an interview.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on Nov. 16, 2022.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canadians feel grocery inflation getting worse, two in five boycotting Loblaw: poll
Almost two-thirds of Canadians feel that inflation at the grocery store is getting worse, a new poll suggests, even as food inflation has been steadily cooling.
Norway, Ireland and Spain say they are recognizing a Palestinian state in a historic move
Norway, Ireland and Spain said on Wednesday they are recognizing a Palestinian state, in a historic but largely symbolic move that deepens Israel’s isolation more than seven months into its grinding war against Hamas in Gaza.
NEW How to remove ticks and what to know about these bloodsuckers
Ticks are parasitic bloodsuckers, capable of spreading deadly disease, and they’re becoming increasingly common. Here’s what you need to know about them.
opinion Joe Biden uses bully pulpit to bully Donald Trump on debates
Donald Trump had spent weeks needling U.S. President Joe Biden for his refusal to commit to a debate. But Washington political columnist Eric Ham describes how in one fell swoop, Biden ingeniously stole the issue from the Trump campaign and made it his own.
Ontario mother loses $2,500 to text scammer pretending to be daughter
An Ontario mother lost $2,500 to a scammer pretending to be her daughter asking for help in late April.
Montreal photographer captures dramatic Canada goose vs. fox fight on video
A Montreal photographer captured the moment a Canada goose defended itself from a fox at the Botanical Garden.
From AI running wild to collapsing ecosystems, government report outlines future disruptions
From artificial intelligence running wild to collapsing ecosystems, a new Canadian government report outlines 35 disruptions that could rattle the country in the near future.
opinion Tom Mulcair: With Trudeau spiralling, Mark Carney waits in the wings
In his latest column for CTVNews.ca, former NDP leader Tom Mulcair argues that if there's an unofficial frontrunner in the eventual race to replace Justin Trudeau as Liberal leader, it has to be former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney.
Police in Ontario say suspects charged in armed home invasion near Toronto part of 'larger criminal network'
Police in Ontario say a group of suspects charged in an armed home invasion north of Toronto last year were driving a vehicle stolen in a carjacking in Calgary just one month earlier.