The race is on to find a vaccine for COVID-19.
Health Minister Patty Hajdu says they are taking a careful approach.
“We will never compromise the safety of Canadians health for speed. There is no value in that. Just to say you got there first, doesn’t make a lot of sense to me. Of course, the world wants a vaccine but it has to be one that is safe and trustworthy,” Hajdu says.
The health minister stresses there is no point in getting a vaccine that doesn’t reach its intended goal of providing immunity against the virus.
Health Canada recently authorized the drug remdesivir for some COVID-19 patients.
“It is useful in a very specific time frame for people who are ill with coronavirus, it helps reduce inflammation and it is not for every particular case of coronavirus but it is helpful,” Hajdu says.