Health Canada is downplaying concerns raised by the U-S Food and Drug Administration following an inspection of a Baltimore vaccine manufacturing facility. The FDA found a number of areas of concern related to manufacturing of the AstraZeneca vaccine.
Health Canada says all AstraZeneca vaccines “imported into Canada from this facility are safe and of high quality.” The federal agency also says Janssen vaccines produced at this site have not entered Canada.
A recent FDA inspection found significant sanitation and procedural problems at the Baltimore plant that ruined 15 million doses of the Johnson and Johnson COVID-19 vaccine including potential cross contamination in multiple areas.
Health Canada says it has verified the 1.5 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccine imported into Canada from this facility meet quality specifications. It says test results of all vaccine lots from the facility have been reviewed as well as the company’s quality control steps to mitigate potential risks of contamination.
The agency also says it is working with the FDA to review the report in detail to determine whether any further action is required “to protect the safety of future vaccine supply from this facility.”
