Saskatoon vaccine manufacturing facility expected to fire up this summer
Saskatoon vaccine manufacturing facility expected to fire up this summer
A facility capable of producing COVID-19 vaccines in the city is nearing completion and is expected to be up and running this summer.
The head of the University of Saskatchewan-based Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO) provided an update on the project to a city committee during a virtual meeting on Monday.
VIDO CEO Volker Gerdts told city councillors attending the meeting that the facility's construction will be finished in April with commissioning planned for July.
The research lab has been developing its own coronavirus vaccine since the beginning of the pandemic, with a trial already completed in Halifax and another planned for Uganda — a nation with a 10 per cent COVID-19 vaccination rate, according to Gerdts.
Last year, in a push to become Canada's "centre for pandemic research," the federal government pledged $46 million with the Saskatchewan government adding another $15 million to the mix.
Saskatoon city council also kicked in $250,000 for the project.
Gerdts said VIDO has since raised another $6 million from private and corporate donors.
As part of its transformation, VIDO will also start operating a "Level 4" containment facility, allowing researchers to handle the world's most dangerous pathogens.
"What we're proposing now is to upgrade about 10 per cent of our containment space … to containment Level 4," Gerdts said.
"This alone would double Canada's capacity level for research and would help the country to be better prepared for any future emerging disease."
Gerdts pointed to VIDO's track record of safely handling "Level 3" pathogens for nearly a decade.
VIDO is hosting a three-day online community consultation event for anyone who has questions are concerns about the change.
"As we're moving forward with this upgrade to Level 4, we would love to hear from the community," Gerdts said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
WATCH Video shows dramatic police takedown of carjacking suspects chased through parking lot north of Toronto
Police have released video footage of a dramatic takedown of a group of teens wanted in connection with an attempted carjacking in Markham earlier this month.
After hearing thousands of last words, this hospital chaplain has advice for the living
Hospital chaplain J.S. Park opens up about death, grief and hearing thousands of last words, and shares his advice for the living.
DEVELOPING G7 warns of new sanctions against Iran as world reacts to apparent Israeli drone attack
Group of Seven foreign ministers warned of new sanctions against Iran on Friday for its drone and missile attack on Israel, and urged both sides to avoid an escalation of the conflict.
WHO likely to issue wider alert on contaminated cough syrup
The World Health Organization is likely to issue a wider warning about contaminated Johnson and Johnson-made children's cough syrup found in Nigeria last week, it said in an email.
Advocacy groups speak out against domestic violence comments by Nova Scotia minister
Several Nova Scotia groups that assist women are speaking out against comments on domestic violence by Justice Minister Brad Johns, and at least one is calling for his dismissal.
A couple lost their wedding rings during the ceremony. Two strangers found a fitting solution
Every good wedding has to have one teensy, tiny crisis.
'It was all my savings': Ontario woman loses $15K to fake Walmart job scam
A woman who recently moved to Canada from India was searching for a job when she got caught in an online job scam and lost $15,000.
Families to receive Canada Child Benefit payment on Friday
More money will land in the pockets of some Canadian families on Friday for the latest Canada Child Benefit installment.