No J & J COVID-19 vaccines for Canada

More than 300,000 doses were to be distributed

Canada will not be accepting more than 300,000 doses of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines.

The single-shot vaccines were quarantined in April before they were distributed to the provinces because of quality control issues at a Baltimore plant.

Health Canada says the substance in the Canadian doses were manufactured at the same time as those contaminated ones and it can’t determine if they meet Canada’s standards.

As a result, it will not be releasing them for use in Canada.

J & J had to toss more than 15 million doses of the vaccine made at the plant in early April after it was discovered workers had mixed up the formula with one for the AstraZeneca vaccine, which was also being made there.

The department says it is planning an on-site inspection of the Maryland facility this summer but, until that is completed, Canada will not accept any product or ingredients made there.

“Canadians can be assured that any vaccines will only be released for distribution once Health Canada is satisfied that they meet the Department’s high standards for quality, safety and efficacy,” the department said in a statement late Friday.

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