National Citizens Inquiry lawyer Shawn Buckley said the health minister was required to approve Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccines, regardless of if he found them unsafe. “Health Canada could conclude this is a really bad idea; the benefits don’t outweigh the risks, but by law, if the argument can be made that there is sufficient evidence to support the conclusion, then by law, Health Canada would still have to approve the vaccine,” said Buckley in an interview on Maverick News..In the drug approval world, Buckley said vaccine manufacturers would have their applications declined. This is because they would be violating international and Canadian criminal law if they approve a drug that is more risky than beneficial.He said people find themselves in this world where a test directs Health Canada to not worry if the benefits outweigh the risks. This is found in the phrase having regards to the uncertainty concerning the benefits and risks on the product labels of the COVID-19 vaccines. While the health minister might have sufficient evidence the benefits outweigh the risks, he said uncertainty remains about them. The test states Health Canada by law has the right to be uncertain. The Canadian government put in a directive to approve the vaccines even if it was uncertain because of the urgent public health emergency presented by COVID-19. Since Canada was in an emergency, he said the test was about requiring Health Canada to respond. He added this test was unscientific. Public health officials told people to take COVID-19 vaccines because they should follow the science. If anyone had read the test, Buckley said they would “go this is the most unscientific test possible.” “It’s a pure political test,” he said. “And in fact, it’s literally a direction to approve.” Health Canada accused Buckley of being wrong. "Health Canada only authorizes the use of a vaccine if the independent and thorough scientific review of all the data included in the submission show that the benefits of the vaccine outweighed the potential risks," it said. "If there is not enough evidence to support safety, effectiveness or quality claims, Health Canada will not authorize the vaccine and the product cannot be sold in Canada." Health Canada authorized the use of a Moderna Spikevax COVID-19 vaccine targeting the Omicron XBB.1.5. subvariant for people six months of age and older on September 12. READ MORE: UPDATED: Health Canada approves Moderna COVID-19 vaccine targeting Omicron subvariantIt received Moderna’s submission for its new COVID-19 vaccine in June. After a thorough, independent review of the evidence, it said it determined the vaccine meets its stringent safety, efficacy and quality requirements. The product label stated people five years of age and older should receive one dose, regardless of their COVID-19 vaccination history.
National Citizens Inquiry lawyer Shawn Buckley said the health minister was required to approve Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccines, regardless of if he found them unsafe. “Health Canada could conclude this is a really bad idea; the benefits don’t outweigh the risks, but by law, if the argument can be made that there is sufficient evidence to support the conclusion, then by law, Health Canada would still have to approve the vaccine,” said Buckley in an interview on Maverick News..In the drug approval world, Buckley said vaccine manufacturers would have their applications declined. This is because they would be violating international and Canadian criminal law if they approve a drug that is more risky than beneficial.He said people find themselves in this world where a test directs Health Canada to not worry if the benefits outweigh the risks. This is found in the phrase having regards to the uncertainty concerning the benefits and risks on the product labels of the COVID-19 vaccines. While the health minister might have sufficient evidence the benefits outweigh the risks, he said uncertainty remains about them. The test states Health Canada by law has the right to be uncertain. The Canadian government put in a directive to approve the vaccines even if it was uncertain because of the urgent public health emergency presented by COVID-19. Since Canada was in an emergency, he said the test was about requiring Health Canada to respond. He added this test was unscientific. Public health officials told people to take COVID-19 vaccines because they should follow the science. If anyone had read the test, Buckley said they would “go this is the most unscientific test possible.” “It’s a pure political test,” he said. “And in fact, it’s literally a direction to approve.” Health Canada accused Buckley of being wrong. "Health Canada only authorizes the use of a vaccine if the independent and thorough scientific review of all the data included in the submission show that the benefits of the vaccine outweighed the potential risks," it said. "If there is not enough evidence to support safety, effectiveness or quality claims, Health Canada will not authorize the vaccine and the product cannot be sold in Canada." Health Canada authorized the use of a Moderna Spikevax COVID-19 vaccine targeting the Omicron XBB.1.5. subvariant for people six months of age and older on September 12. READ MORE: UPDATED: Health Canada approves Moderna COVID-19 vaccine targeting Omicron subvariantIt received Moderna’s submission for its new COVID-19 vaccine in June. After a thorough, independent review of the evidence, it said it determined the vaccine meets its stringent safety, efficacy and quality requirements. The product label stated people five years of age and older should receive one dose, regardless of their COVID-19 vaccination history.
