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
Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
King Charles' cancer treatment progressing well, says Buckingham Palace
King Charles III’s doctors are 'sufficiently pleased' with his cancer treatment and he is expected to return to public-facing duties, Buckingham Palace announced on Friday.
AFN chief says Air Canada offered a 15% discount after her headdress was mishandled
After the Assembly of First Nations' national chief complained to Air Canada about how staffers treated her and her ceremonial headdress on a flight this week, she says the airline responded by offering a 15 per cent discount on her next flight.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
DEVELOPING Bird flu outbreaks: WHO weighs in on public health risk
The current overall public health risk posed by the H5N1 bird flu virus is low, the World Health Organization said on Friday, but urged countries to stay alert for cases of animal-to-human transmission.
76ers All-Star centre Joel Embiid says he has Bell's palsy
Philadelphia 76ers All-Star centre Joel Embiid has been diagnosed with Bell’s palsy, a form of facial paralysis he says has affected him since before the play-in tournament.
Island near Mull of Kintyre for sale for US$3.1 million
An idyllic 453-acre private island is up for sale off the west coast of Scotland and it comes with sandy beaches, puffins galore, seven houses, a pub, a helipad and a flock of black-faced sheep.
Regina police officer injured after being accidentally shot by fellow officer's gun
An investigation is underway after a Regina police officer was accidentally shot by a fellow officer’s gun during the search of a house early Friday morning.
Taylor Swift dons Montreal designer's dress in 'Fortnight' video
A pair of Montreal designers' work has now been viewed over 41 million times. Taylor Swift dons a Victorian throwback black gown in her latest music video, 'Fortnight', designed by UNTTLD due Simon Belanger and Jose Manuel Saint-Jacques.