Coronavirus: Despite promising data, expert says Canada unlikely to use vaccines from Russia and China - CTV News | Canada News Media
Connect with us

News

Coronavirus: Despite promising data, expert says Canada unlikely to use vaccines from Russia and China – CTV News

Published

 on


TORONTO —
A new study from the Lancet has shown that Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine, which was initially met with skepticism in the West, has an efficacy rate of nearly 92 per cent, almost on par with Pfizer and Moderna, which are at 95 per cent.

Last week, Russia signed a deal to produce Sputnik V in Italy, a first for the European Union, and EU regulators have been looking into approving distribution of the vaccine.

Meanwhile, vaccines from Sinopharm and Sinovac, two Chinese companies, have been widely approved in the Middle East and Latin America.

But there’s no indication that any of these vaccines are on the radar for approval by Canadian health authorities.

Epidemiologist Raywat Deonandan says the Russia’s Sputnik V initially was met with skepticism due to a combination of politics and concerns about the quality of the original data presented by Russian scientists.

“The original data by which the Russians licensed their vaccine for widespread use was based on 76 people, a very small number, and also there wasn’t a lot of transparency in their licensing regulation process,” said Deonandan. “That got a lot of ethicists concerned about what other kinds of steps were skipped if, in fact, the regulation process was a bit muddled.

” I think we’re at the point now where the proof is in the pudding and the vaccine does seem to be quite effective.”

Sputnik V works similarly to AstraZeneca’s vaccine, using what’s known as a viral vector approach that uses an adenovirus to deliver the coronavirus spike protein.

“It’s different from AstraZeneca in that AstraZeneca uses a chimp viral vector and the Russians use a human viral vector. But it seems to be quite effective,” said Deonandan.

“I don’t think we will end up using it because we have other options now, but I’m glad this vaccine is making its way around the world.”

Both of the Chinese vaccines simply inject an inactivated coronavirus into the body.

“What they’ve done is they take the actual SARS-CoV-2 virus and made it inactive, unable to replicate using chemical means, and that is injected into the person and that causes the immune response,” Deonandan explained. “The thing about inactivated virus vaccines is that they tend not to be as long-lived with the immune response and often need a bigger dose to get that immune response.”

The efficacy rates for the vaccines manufactured in China are ” all over the map,” Deonandan says. Some studies have shown an efficacy rate of 50 per cent, while others say it’s closer to 90 per cent.

Deonandan says that until researchers can figure out how to combine and access that data, it will be difficult to get those vaccines licensed​ in Canada.

Let’s block ads! (Why?)



Source link

Continue Reading

News

RCMP arrest second suspect in deadly shooting east of Calgary

Published

 on

 

EDMONTON – RCMP say a second suspect has been arrested in the killing of an Alberta county worker.

Mounties say 28-year-old Elijah Strawberry was taken into custody Friday at a house on O’Chiese First Nation.

Colin Hough, a worker with Rocky View County, was shot and killed while on the job on a rural road east of Calgary on Aug. 6.

Another man who worked for Fortis Alberta was shot and wounded, and RCMP said the suspects fled in a Rocky View County work truck.

Police later arrested Arthur Wayne Penner, 35, and charged him with first-degree murder and attempted murder, and a warrant was issued for Strawberry’s arrest.

RCMP also said there was a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of Strawberry, describing him as armed and dangerous.

Chief Supt. Roberta McKale, told a news conference in Edmonton that officers had received tips and information over the last few weeks.

“I don’t know of many members that when were stopped, fuelling up our vehicles, we weren’t keeping an eye out, looking for him,” she said.

But officers had been investigating other cases when they found Strawberry.

“Our investigators were in O’Chiese First Nation at a residence on another matter and the major crimes unit was there working another file and ended up locating him hiding in the residence,” McKale said.

While an investigation is still underway, RCMP say they’re confident both suspects in the case are in police custody.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

Source link

Continue Reading

News

26-year-old son is accused of his father’s murder on B.C.’s Sunshine Coast

Published

 on

RICHMOND, B.C. – The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team says the 26-year-old son of a man found dead on British Columbia’s Sunshine Coast has been charged with his murder.

Police say 58-year-old Henry Doyle was found badly injured on a forest service road in Egmont last September and died of his injuries.

The homicide team took over when the BC Coroners Service said the man’s death was suspicious.

It says in a statement that the BC Prosecution Service has approved one count of first-degree murder against the man’s son, Jackson Doyle.

Police say the accused will remain in custody until at least his next court appearance.

The homicide team says investigators remained committed to solving the case with the help of the community of Egmont, the RCMP on the Sunshine Coast and in Richmond, and the Vancouver Police Department.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.



Source link

Continue Reading

News

Metro Vancouver’s HandyDART strike continues after talks break with no deal

Published

 on

 

VANCOUVER – Mediated talks between the union representing HandyDART workers in Metro Vancouver and its employer, Transdev, have broken off without an agreement following 15 hours of talks.

Joe McCann, president of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1724, says they stayed at the bargaining table with help from a mediator until 2 a.m. Friday and made “some progress.”

However, he says the union negotiators didn’t get an offer that they could recommend to the membership.

McCann says that in some ways they are close to an agreement, but in other areas they are “miles apart.”

About 600 employees of the door-to-door transit service for people who can’t navigate the conventional transit system have been on strike since last week, pausing service for all but essential medical trips.

McCann asks HandyDART users to be “patient,” since they are trying to get not only a fair contract for workers but also a better service for customers.

He says it’s unclear when the talks will resume, but he hopes next week at the latest.

The employer, Transdev, didn’t reply to an interview request before publication.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

Source link

Continue Reading

Trending

Exit mobile version