issue 31// vol 46

Milestone achieved by Canadian

news // no. 5

researchers for potential COVID-19 vaccine

» Tested and proven highly effective in ferrets

The lasting lockdown

 

Illustration by Athena Little

Tania Arora
Staff Writer

 

Sn the global pandemic entered the
spotlight, researchers all over the world
are trying every means to come up witha
vaccine for the COVID-19 virus. Canadian
researchers are part of the global effort.

The team of researchers at The
University of Saskatchewan's Vaccine
and Infectious Disease Organization-
International Vaccine Centre (VIDO-
InterVac) announced a possible vaccine
candidate and are moving towards clinical
trials.

Vaccines are developed using living
organisms to help the body fight the
trouble caused by a pathogen (disease-
causing organism). The vaccine candidate
developed by the research organization is
proved to be “highly effective” in the pre-
clinical trials when tested on ferrets.

According to The University of
Saskatchewan’s VIDO-InterVac, “To
evaluate the effectiveness of the vaccine,
the ferrets received two immunizations

c¢

before being exposed to SARS-CoV-2, the
virus that causes COVID-19. The vaccine-
induced a strong immune response
generated neutralizing antibody and
decreased viral infection in the upper
respiratory tract to almost undetectable
levels.”

Project head Dr. Darryl Falzarano
stated that they “are excited by these
results and are continuing to develop our
vaccine towards regulatory approval.” After
this animal trial, the research organization
will be moving to human clinical trials this
fall.

Before this announcement, other
research organizations also claimed success
from animal trials, including Quebec-
based biotech company Medicago Inc.,
and IMV Inc.—another Quebec company.
Although the vaccine to begin human
trials is by CanSino Biologics—a Chinese
company in collaboration with Canada’s
National Research Council. The vaccine has
proven to have positive results when tested
on more than 100 subjects in Wuhan.

After this animal trial, the research
organization will be moving to
human clinical trials this fall.

 

> BC officially in longest state of emergency in province's history

Lauren Gargiulo
Contributor

 

Bes Columbia's current state of
emergency is now the longest in the
province’s history.

BC Premier John Horgan extended
the emergency for another two weeks on
Wednesday, as BC residents start preparing
for phase two of the province’s restart plan.
In phase two, health services including
elective surgery have been restarted, as
well as physical therapy, massage therapy,
dentistry, and other medical services.

According to the province's plan,
phase two means that the government is
“asking people to stay close to home and
avoid any travel between communities that
are not essential.”

If transmission rates of COVID-19
continue to decline, people can begin
travelling throughout BC during phase
three, which is estimated to start between
June and September.

Despite BC having the lowest
mortality rate in a jurisdiction in Canada,
the United States, and Europe with more
than 2,500 positive cases and over 150
deaths, Horgan is not looking to end the
state of emergency in two weeks time.

Although BC is on track with its restart
plan, Horgan told reporters on May 27
that there “is likely no end in sight” and is
expecting BC’s state of emergency to last
longer than the current time of 12 weeks.

The provincial government can extend
the period of a state of emergency up
to 14 days at a time. The longest state of
emergency previously was due to the 2017
wildfire season which lasted for 10 weeks
from July 7 to Sept. 15.

Ina response about the provincial
state of emergency extension Minister
of Public Safety and Solicitor General
Mike Farnworth said the government
“is committed to supporting people and
businesses for the long road ahead.”

As restaurants and retail businesses
start re-opening, “we must work together
[...] in a way that keeps our communities
and loved ones safe in the weeks and
months to come.” Horgan states in the
same document.

Businesses like hair salons,
restaurants, and massage therapists can
operate on a 50 percent capacity—with
many businesses requiring both patrons
and employees to wear masks.

BC legislature will be returning on
June 22, with MLAs working both from the

BC legislature in Victoria and from home
Horgan said. “But at the end of the day,

 
 

Photo of John Horgan via Province of British Columbia on Flickr

debates will take place, votes will be cast,
and democracy will be well served.”