VIDO’s COVID vaccine safe, says Canadian Centre for Vaccinology

The COVID-19 vaccine created by Saskatoon’s Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO) has been demonstrated as safe and effective in its Phase One clinical trials.

The interim data results come from the Canadian Centre for Vaccinology, and show the most common side effects reported were headaches and pain at the injection site. It’s not clear whether one or two doses need to be administered.

According to VIDO, even low doses of the vaccine were highly effective, although there’s no information from VIDO to indicate percentages at this point.

“The data continues to demonstrate the safety of our subunit vaccine COVAC-2,” says VIDO’s director and CEO, Dr. Volker Gerdts. “We are encouraged by the vaccine’s ability to generate a significant immune response, even at the lowest dose tested.”

Right now, clinical trial participants are being recruited in Halifax, but later this summer, volunteers in Saskatoon will be needed.

Those interested in taking part in the clinical trial in Saskatoon must be over the age of 18, and they can’t have had COVID-19 or a COVID-19 vaccination.

For more information on trial participation, contact the Clinical Trial Support Unit at ctsu@usask.ca or 306-978-8300.