LONDON, Aug. 7 (EFE) — The British government on Monday unveiled a new facility in Wiltshire, southern England, dedicated to research on next-generation vaccines to ensure future epidemics do not cause the same problems. destroy. Living like covid-19.
This is the so-called Vaccine Evaluation and Development Center (VDEC) and is located on the UK Health and Safety Agency (UKHSA) grounds, in the town of Porton Down, near Salisbury (Wiltshire).
According to details released today, the live virus will be kept in containment facilities, and researchers will test for pathogens for which no vaccines have been developed, or for which immunity could be improved, such as influenza.
Specific diseases such as tuberculosis (TB) will also be investigated, while a Phase 1 clinical trial of the world’s first shot for Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever, a tick-borne disease, is currently underway. virus, which is very severe in 30% of countries. case.
Jenny Harries, chief executive of UKHSA, said they were trying to learn from the covid-19 problems so they could prepare the country for any new pandemic.
This preparation became known after previous administrations were found to have focused too much on preparations for a flu pandemic rather than other types of pathogens.
VG/ESS