Canada can't rely on other countries and companies to create vaccines, says Volker Gerdts, CEO of Saskatoon's Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO). VIDO had early success with promising COVID-19 vaccine research, but Gerdts said progress slowed because the company doesn't have its own manufacturing facility. Workers in Saskatoon are expanding the Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO) facility at the University of Saskatchewan. (Submitted by VIDO-InterVac/University of Saskatchewan)In 2020, VIDO received about $50.5 million from the federal and provincial governments for the construction of the vaccine manufacturing facility and COVID-19 vaccine development, a representative from VIDO said. In addition to their work on a COVID-19 vaccine, VIDO also worked with organizations from around the world to develop other therapeutics, antivirals and vaccines against COVID-19.

Source: CBC News January 25, 2021 17:03 UTC