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Canada offers experimental Ebola vaccine VSV-EBOV to West Africa
Canada has about 1,500 doses of the vaccine and will donate as many as 1,000 to WHO
The Canadian PressPosted: Aug 12, 2014 5:47 PM ET|Last Updated: Aug 12, 2014 7:26 PM ET
A made-in-Canada experimental Ebola vaccine will be offered for use in the West African outbreak response, the Public Health Agency of Canada revealed Tuesday.
The news comes hours after the World Health Organization said a panel of experts advised that it would be ethical to use untested drugs and vaccines in this raging epidemic, which is several times larger than any previous outbreak.
"We see this as a global resource and we need to have some conversations to figure out what the best use of this experimental vaccine is," said Dr. Gregory Taylor, deputy head of the public health agency.
He said the agency would be discussing options with international partners and the WHO over the coming days to try to come up with a plan for the best use of what is a limited number of vaccine doses.
...
Ambrose added that "Canada feels this experimental vaccine is a global resource, so in response we are sharing it with the international community, while keeping a small supply in Canada."
A ministry statement acknowledged that while the vaccine, known as VSV-EBOV, has never been tested in humans, it "has shown promise in animal trials."
...
http://www.cbc.ca/news/health/canad...ola-vaccine-vsv-ebov-to-west-africa-1.2734681
Canada has about 1,500 doses of the vaccine and will donate as many as 1,000 to WHO
The Canadian PressPosted: Aug 12, 2014 5:47 PM ET|Last Updated: Aug 12, 2014 7:26 PM ET
A made-in-Canada experimental Ebola vaccine will be offered for use in the West African outbreak response, the Public Health Agency of Canada revealed Tuesday.
The news comes hours after the World Health Organization said a panel of experts advised that it would be ethical to use untested drugs and vaccines in this raging epidemic, which is several times larger than any previous outbreak.
"We see this as a global resource and we need to have some conversations to figure out what the best use of this experimental vaccine is," said Dr. Gregory Taylor, deputy head of the public health agency.
He said the agency would be discussing options with international partners and the WHO over the coming days to try to come up with a plan for the best use of what is a limited number of vaccine doses.
...
Ambrose added that "Canada feels this experimental vaccine is a global resource, so in response we are sharing it with the international community, while keeping a small supply in Canada."
A ministry statement acknowledged that while the vaccine, known as VSV-EBOV, has never been tested in humans, it "has shown promise in animal trials."
...
http://www.cbc.ca/news/health/canad...ola-vaccine-vsv-ebov-to-west-africa-1.2734681