Toronto Welcomes Sanofi’s Opening of Canada’s Largest Vaccine Plant

May 30, 2024 TruthUSA

French drugmaker Sanofi has inaugurated Canada’s largest vaccine plant in Toronto, with production set to begin in 2027, as announced by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Speaking at a press conference in Toronto on May 30, Mr. Trudeau stated, “This is the largest bio-manufacturing facility in Canadian history, creating and sustaining hundreds of high-skilled jobs.”

The expansive new facility, covering 200,000 square feet, is designed to significantly boost Canada’s production of pediatric and adult vaccines for diseases like whooping cough, diphtheria, and tetanus. These vaccines will then be exported to 60 countries.

The total cost of the facility amounts to $800 million, including a $20 million contribution from the federal government and $50 million from the province of Ontario. Mr. Trudeau emphasized that investments in bio-manufacturing are key in establishing research and development hubs in Canada.

Highlighting the importance of vaccines against diseases such as polio, tetanus, and measles, Mr. Trudeau underscored their role in saving numerous lives over the years. He noted, “We know that whooping cough claims about 400,000 lives globally annually. These are preventable deaths, and the vaccines manufactured here will save lives worldwide.”

Ontario Premier Doug Ford described the investment as a vote of confidence in Toronto and Canada.

Related Stories

COVID Vaccination Is ‘Safe’ but Remains Clinically Untested for Pregnant Women: Health Canada

Lack of ‘Straight Answers’ From Health Canada on COVID Vaccines Is Concerning, Tory MP Says

“This new facility will employ over 200 individuals and substantially boost the country’s vaccine production, helping to secure our domestic supply chains and guarantee that people nationwide have access to life-saving vaccinations when needed,” he added.

Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow expressed that the inauguration of the factory would further solidify Toronto as a hub for innovative research and pharmaceutical manufacturing.

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020, the federal government has allocated over $2.2 billion towards 38 projects within the biomanufacturing sector. This includes $1.3 billion in funding towards establishing 12 new or expanded biomanufacturing facilities to produce vaccines and antibody treatments.

In February 2023, a new mRNA vaccine production plant was completed in Laval, Quebec, with an aim to manufacture 100 million vaccine doses annually.

The federal government also invested $323 million in Medicago to develop COVID-19 vaccines at its facility in Quebec City. However, no COVID-19 vaccines from the company reached the market, leading to the closure of the facility in February 2023. Ottawa has managed to recoup $40 million from its investment in the now-defunct company.

Source link