Monday, July 28, 2025
ADVT 
National

Ebola vaccines not a magic bullet, but could be part of solution: WHO

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 24 Oct, 2014 11:37 AM

    TORONTO - A senior official of the World Health Organization says experimental Ebola vaccines are not a magic bullet that will resolve the crisis in West Africa.

    Dr. Marie-Paule Kieny says vaccines may play a significant role in bringing the outbreak under control, but they are only one part of the effort.

    Kieny is the WHO's point person for development of Ebola vaccines and drugs; she was speaking after an international summit on speeding up development of vaccines.

    She says the first use of the vaccines in affected West African countries could begin in late December in Liberia as part of a clinical trial.

    Kieny says its not clear right now if both of the leading candidate vaccines will be ready for use in December or if the one being developed by GlaxoSmithKline will start before the Canadian-made vaccine.

    Safety testing of the Canadian vaccine, which is being developed by American biotech firm NewLink Genetics, is several weeks behind the work on the GSK vaccine.

    The first two clinical trials of the Canadian vaccine have started in Bethesda, Md., at the National Institutes of Health and Walter Reed Army Medical Center. Four more are to start soon in Germany, Switzerland, Gabon and Kenya.

    Kieny told a press conference today that there could be several hundred thousand doses of Ebola vaccines that can be used in trials within the first half of 2015.

    Earlier this week NewLink's CEO, Dr. Charles Link, told The Canadian Press his company may have between 700,000 and seven million doses by the end of this year, depending on how much vaccine is needed to protect each person. That information will be established by the safety studies now underway.

    Kieny suggests for planning purposes it is better to go with numbers that appear realistic rather than ones that are more ambitious.

    MORE National ARTICLES

    World Follows Chaotic Scenes In Ottawa

    World Follows Chaotic Scenes In Ottawa
    WASHINGTON - The chaos in Canada's capital attracted the attention of people around the world Wednesday, including U.S. President Barack Obama who received a briefing on the developments from the Oval Office.

    World Follows Chaotic Scenes In Ottawa

    Bases On Heightened Security Around Country After Ottawa Shootings

    Bases On Heightened Security Around Country After Ottawa Shootings
    OTTAWA - Canadian Forces bases across the country were told Wednesday to consider increasing security levels after shootings on Parliament Hill and at the National War Memorial in Ottawa.

    Bases On Heightened Security Around Country After Ottawa Shootings

    White House: Obama awaiting chance to speak with Harper about Ottawa shooting

    White House: Obama awaiting chance to speak with Harper about Ottawa shooting
    WASHINGTON - U.S. President Barack Obama has been briefed on the shooting in Ottawa and is awaiting a chance to discuss it with Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

    White House: Obama awaiting chance to speak with Harper about Ottawa shooting

    PM Harper Cancels Malala Citizenship Ceremony In Light Of Ottawa Shooting

    PM Harper Cancels Malala Citizenship Ceremony In Light Of Ottawa Shooting
    TORONTO - Prime Minister Stephen Harper's office says two scheduled events today in Toronto with Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai have been cancelled.

    PM Harper Cancels Malala Citizenship Ceremony In Light Of Ottawa Shooting

    NHL postpones Senators vs. Maple Leafs in wake of Ottawa shootings

    NHL postpones Senators vs. Maple Leafs in wake of Ottawa shootings
    OTTAWA - Tonight's NHL game between the Ottawa Senators and the Toronto Maple Leafs has been postponed following the shootings on Parliament Hill.

    NHL postpones Senators vs. Maple Leafs in wake of Ottawa shootings

    MPs Credit Sergeant-at-arms For Saving Lives In Parliament Hill Shootings

    MPs Credit Sergeant-at-arms For Saving Lives In Parliament Hill Shootings
    OTTAWA - The man who is reported to have shot an assailant on Parliament Hill today is a former police officer with a background in providing security services for dignitaries, including members of the Royal Family.

    MPs Credit Sergeant-at-arms For Saving Lives In Parliament Hill Shootings