Manitoba’s premier continues to be concerned about vaccine deliveries to his province, and others.

Brian Pallister says Canada continues lagging behind other countries in immunizations, and blames foot-dragging by Ottawa.

“The federal government made a choice early on, and they had their reasons for it, and the choice was to block provinces from being able to buy vaccines,” Pallister stated. “We have tried, we have never stopped trying, but we’ve been refused.”

Because of that, Pallister says they’ve entered an agreement with Alberta-based Providence Therapeutics to get 200 thousand doses, once approved by Health Canada later this year, and 2 million in total.

The vaccine Providence Therapeutics is developing is mRNA-based similar to the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines.

“The first clinical trials are underway, with the second round anticipated to begin this spring,” the province notes in a news release.

Pallister has invited other premiers and the prime minister to join his government in this effort.