Canadian officials said Friday that they would donate between 800 and 1,000 vials of an experimental Ebola vaccine to the West African relief effort.
The vaccine has not been run through human trials, so its effectiveness is unclear.
Dr. Gregory Taylor, deputy head of the Public Health Agency of Canada, said the country had 1,500 total vials, but needed to keep some in case there was an outbreak within its own borders.
“This vaccine, the product of many years of scientific research and innovation, could be an important tool in curbing the outbreak,” Taylor said.
The vaccine was made by California company Mapp Biopharmaceutical, using research originated at Canada’s National Microbiology Laboratory. A key ingredient is reportedly derived from tobacco.
It has been tried on two aid workers with the group Samaritan’s Purse who were exposed while in West Africa. Both have improved, though scientist caution that could just be the body’s natural immune system at work.
