The first doses of an experimental Ebola vaccine developed partly in Canada were injected into the first volunteers in Halifax today.
The small clinical trial is meant to find out whether the vaccine is safe in humans and whether it creates an effective infection-fighting response, according to the Canadian Center for Vaccinology, where the study is based.
More than 150 adults offered to take part in the Canadian trial, which had room for 40 participants. The popularity was a surprise to Dr. Scott Halperin, the study’s principal investigator.
Participants randomly receive either the vaccine or a placebo of salt and water. Study results are expected in early 2015. Another Ebola vaccine made by British pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline and the U.S. National Institute of Health is also undergoing clinical trials for safety.
