Premier Jason Kenney. (Government of Alberta)

By David Opinko

Province investing in research for made-in-Alberta vaccines

Apr 8, 2021 | 12:38 PM

EDMONTON, AB – “We can never again be at the whim of other countries and the politics of other nations when it comes to vaccine security.”

Premier Jason Kenney is in Edmonton to announce an additional $20-million investment for the University of Alberta’s Li Ka Shing Centre for Health Research Innovation.

The Centre is renowned for its research into viruses and other pathogens and the development of vaccines and other treatments.

Kenney says it is “sustainable funding” that will allow it to recruit and retain scientists and fund the expansion of its research capacity.

Given the current state of the COVID-19 pandemic and Canada’s struggle to get adequate vaccine supplies, the premier believes this investment is more important now than ever.

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Due to a lack of domestic production, the country has lagged behind many other developed nations in procuring doses.

“I think what’s happened with vaccine nationalism in the past few months underscores the critical strategic need for Canada to have the capacity to develop, and indeed, produce vaccines and other critical pharmaceutical products for the future,” says Kenney.

Minister of Jobs, Economy, and Innovation Doug Schweitzer adds that they have received 17 proposals from different companies looking to produce vaccines in the province.

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