The Public Health Agency of Canada announced on Saturday that it would be sending experimental Ebola vaccines to the World Health Organization (WHO) starting Monday to help West Africans fight the deadly disease.
The Canadian government has prepared 800 vials that will be transported by air from Winnipeg, Manitoba to the University Hospital of Geneva. Scientists from Winnipeg have been working on this experimental vaccine for more than 10 years, according to the Wall Street Journal.
"Canada views this experimental Ebola vaccine as a global resource and in the interest of global public health, we are sharing it with our international partners to help address the Ebola outbreak in West Africa," Canadian Health Minister Rona Ambrose said.
WHO officials will be consulting with health authorities and partners regarding the proper allocation of the vaccines which license is owned by NewLink Genetics, of Ames, Iowa. There are thousands of infected people, and the 800 vials are apparently insufficient. They will also need to take into consideration that the drug is still experimental.
The Ebola vaccine dubbed "VSV-EBOV" proved beneficial on primate subjects and is now being tested on 40 healthy volunteers at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research in the United States. Results of the human trials will be released in December.
The Phase 1 trial will conclude if the vaccine is safe for human use, as well as the proper dosage and side effects associated to it. During the animal tests, the vaccine worked if administered prior to exposure and increased survival chances if given immediately after infection, the Associated Press reported.
"This vaccine, the product of many years of scientific research and innovation, could be an important tool in curbing the outbreak," said Dr. Gregory Taylor of Canada's Public Health Agency. "We will continue to work closely with the WHO to address some of the ethical and logistical issues around using this experimental vaccine in the fight against Ebola."
