BREAKING: Canada expected to receive 500,000 fewer vaccines by end of March than anticipated

More than 500,000 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine that were destined for Canadians may not be delivered, Global News has learned.

The Trudeau Liberals anticipated that four million doses of the vaccine would be delivered to Canada by the end of March. A source told Global that the number is expected be be only about 3.5 million.

While Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told Canadians that the manufacturing delay in Pfizer plants in Europe would not affect the shipment for March, some provinces such as Alberta will now have to prepare for reductions in shipments to the tune of 13 percent.

Contrary to the report, major general Dany Fortin, who is overseeing Canada’s vaccine distribution logistics, told media: "Pfizer has assured us that Canada will receive four million doses that they had previously indicated by end of March, so they assured us of that, and we're working to that end with Pfizer."

Fortin told media on January 15 that there would be production delays of the vaccine, but said that the delays would be "temporary" and would not affect the four million doses delivered by March's end.

Canada has fallen behind on a global stage in its vaccination efforts to countries such as the US, the UK, and Israel. According to The Economist Intelligence Unit, Canada may not be on pace for Trudeau's promise that every Canadian who wants a vaccine would get one by September 2021.

When asked about those figures, General Fortin said: "From a numbers perspective, we expect to receive six million doses in this quarter, 20 million in the next one, and the remainder of the 80 million that was previously announced between the third and the fourth quarter, with the vast majority coming in the Summer time. We expect to have sufficient quantities by September to vaccinate every Canadian that wants to get vaccinated."