BREAKING: Ford sends 'direct message to President Biden': Help Canada out with vaccines

Premier Doug Ford gave a "direct message" to President-elect Joe Biden: Help out your neighbour.

At a press conference on Tuesday, Ford called for assistance from the Americans, as the flow of vaccines arriving in Canada heads to a slow halt. Ford complained that Canada, a G7 country, was not getting enough vaccines while smaller countries in the European Union were receiving seamless deliveries.

Ford asked that President Biden help Canadians "once again," as they did during Canada's PPE shortage during the start of Canada's first wave.

"My American friends, help us out... you have a new president, no more excuses. we need your support.. that's a direct message to President Biden. Help out your neighbour. You want us all to get along? Hunky dory, kumbaya? Help us out."

Ford pointed to a Pfizer vaccine facility just "six hours away" in Kalamazoo, Michigan, saying that Americans could once again help their neighbours.

On Friday, Procurement Minister Anita Anand announced that Canadian procurements of the Pfizer vaccine would be reduced, as the company faces production issues.

The company is reducing shipments outside of the United States as their European facilities face production problems.

"This is unfortunate. However such delays and issues are to be expected when global supply chains are stretched well beyond their limits," Anand said.