Vaccine development centre opens in Saskatoon
The University of Saskatchewan’s Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO) Vaccine Development Centre is complete.
“We have the ability to make human and animal vaccines in the same facility and that we are tied into the containment space,” Director and CEO of the Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization Volker Gerdts said.
VIDO is one of the few biomanufacturing facilities in the world that can provide vaccines under containment level 3. The facility cost $28 million and received federal, provincial and municipal funding.
“We recognized the only way to move beyond the pandemic and keep people safe was through a coordinated, effective immunization campaign that included swift and reliable procurement from our government,” Minister for Prairies Economic Development Daniel Vandal said in a media release.
“At the same time, we are ensuring that Canadians, and the global community, have Canadian-produced vaccines to protect from future infectious disease outbreaks by investing $97.8 million from PrairiesCan since 2018, to help VIDO emerge as a world-class hub of research, development, and vaccine manufacturing capacity.”
VIDO broke ground by being one of the first labs in Canada to isolate the SARS-VoV-2 virus. A VIDO-developed COVID-19 vaccine is currently undergoing trials.
The facility was the first at a Canadian university to create its own COVID-19 vaccine and to enter clinical trials. The COVAC-2 is an alternative to the mRNA vaccines currently being used for immunization in Canada.
The centre will be one of only a few in the world certified for containment Level 3 - used for work with high-risk biological agents and hazards, genetically modified organisms, animals and plants.
“So those pathogens that in the future require containment, we can work with them here, because we are already operating Canada's largest containment facility,” said Gerdts.
VIDO says the centre is its first step in establishing the lab as Canada’s Centre for Pandemic Research, which the province says is raising Saskatchewan's profile.
“What this is doing now is bringing their (VIDO) expertise and their impeccable reputation to the human vaccine side,” said Premier Scott Moe. “Expanding beyond just research but expanding into the actual development of those vaccines, production of those vaccines.”
Vandal responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada said it became evident when COVID first hit that there needed to be Canadian production of vaccines.
“In the future, we’re going to be much better prepared as we know that pandemics are going to hit again whether it’s in 2 years or 25 years,” Prairies Economic Development Canada Member of Parliament Dan Vandal said. “They're not going away.”
Currently, VIDO’s centre is classified as containment Level 3. The building is built to containment Level 4 standards and is now working to become certified. That would allow it to work with the most deadly severe human and animal diseases.
Staff include scientists from 25 countries.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
Man sets self on fire outside New York court where Trump trial underway
A man set himself on fire on Friday outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump's historic hush-money trial was taking place as jury selection wrapped up, but officials said he did not appear to have been targeting Trump.
Sask. father found guilty of withholding daughter to prevent her from getting COVID-19 vaccine
Michael Gordon Jackson, a Saskatchewan man accused of abducting his daughter to prevent her from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, has been found guilty for contravention of a custody order.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
Shivering for health: The myths and truths of ice baths explained
In a climate of social media-endorsed wellness rituals, plunging into cold water has promised to aid muscle recovery, enhance mental health and support immune system function. But the evidence of such benefits sits on thin ice, according to researchers.
'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.
Manitoba mom praises quick-thinking fire department for freeing daughter stuck in playground equipment
A Manitoba mother is praising firefighters for their quick work in helping her daughter who got stuck at a playground in Lorette, Man.
The Body Shop Canada explores sale as demand outpaces inventory: court filing
The Body Shop Canada is exploring a sale as it struggles to get its hands on enough inventory to keep up with "robust" sales after announcing it would file for creditor protection and close 33 stores.