In the live town hall on Facebook with cabinet ministers this week, Premier Jason Kenney and Dr. Deena Hinshaw, Alberta’s chief medical officer of health, offered some comments about a COVID-19 vaccine. 

Dr. Hinshaw said there are currently 10 clinical human trials for a vaccine taking place, with one in Canada. They are watching these trials closely for effectiveness and safety. 

She says that right now there is not one that is a clear front runner as it is still relatively early in the process. Dr. Hinshaw says it is incredible that five months post discovery of the virus that this many trials are going. It will take a few months for results to unfold. 

On the other hand, Dr. Hinshaw also said that there is not likely to be widespread use of a vaccine until next year. 

The current trials are using small groups numbered in the hundreds. They will have to be expanded at some point to the thousands. After a vaccine is created, it also takes quite a bit of time to manufacture and then get it to market. 

Premier Kenney addressed some misinformation about the vaccine, namely that a law had been passed making receiving it mandatory. 

He says that this is false. 

Kenney reports that since 1910, the public health act has been able to make a vaccine mandatory but has not to his knowledge. 

They have no intention of making a COVID-19 vaccination mandatory, but would strongly encourage people to use the vaccine if there was a safe and approved one developed.