WINNIPEG – Premier Brian Pallister’s plan for Manitoba to buy its own supply of COVID-19 vaccine is being called a fantasy.

A University of Ottawa professor says Providence Therapeutics is too far behind to ever catch up to current vaccines that are already approved.

Amir Attaran says the prospect of the province receiving the vaccine by the end of the year is in the realm of fantasy.

Pallister says his deal with Providence makes sense because of shipment delays in the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines purchased by Ottawa.