“Things are changing very quickly,” Dr. Davinder Singh, assistant professor of community health sciences at the University of Manitoba, said Wednesday after the new cases popped up in the Interlake. “Up until recently, we could basically track everything back, but now we’ve had some cases where that’s not the case.

“There’s no known specific exposure to one of our exposure sites listed or to a person that they knew had measles.”

AND quotes from:

Pediatrician-scientist Dr. Peter Hotez, who’s studied anti-vaccine activism in the U.S. and is speaking at UM this week, urged public health officials to do whatever they can to debunk anti-vaccine misinformation, using simple infographics, advocacy and education.

To read the entire article, please follow the link to The Free Press. 

In partnership with the Free Press, UM offers free digital access to all students, faculty and staff.

This initiative helps support an informed and engaged campus community. Learn more.

When COVID-19 emerged in March 2020, Canada’s health-care system was confronted with a unique challenge.

As emergency rooms swelled with patients, there was intense pressure to come up with a vaccine to protect people and reduce the strain on hospitals.

Canada’s vaccine research and development capacity was lagging. “COVID-19 exposed the fact that we had no capacity to manufacture a vaccine in-house,” says Dr. Peter Pelka, a professor in the department of microbiology at the University of Manitoba. “It was immediately recognized [that]… we couldn’t prioritize our own citizens.”

Ultimately, the federal government purchased vaccines from manufacturers located outside of Canada. Without domestic capacity to quickly create vaccines, valuable time had been lost. Hospitals were overwhelmed, stretching resources and staff beyond their limits.

It was clear Canada needed to ramp up its capacity to produce its own vaccines.

The Solution

Fast forward to 2025, and scientists from across the Prairies have mobilized with a sole focus on being ready to produce vaccines when needed.

The project, led by Pelka, is a partnership between UM and the Universities of Alberta, Saskatchewan and Calgary to conduct world-leading vaccine and biomanufacturing research.

To enable that, the federal government made a historic $57-million investment, announced in May 2024, to build two innovative facilities at UM. These state-of-the-art labs – one on the Bannatyne campus and the other on the Fort Garry campus – will play a key role in addressing future pandemic threats in Canada and around the world.

“That will give us the platform we need for quick vaccine developments,” explains Pelka. “The goal would be to develop new viral vector vaccines quickly, hopefully in 100 days or less. Being part of this Prairie Hub will allow us to do research, and to manufacture vaccines in-house. The big thing is we will be able to develop vaccines quickly and safely.”

Not only that, but the next-generation vaccines produced at the UM labs will be delivered in a more effective manner.

“Unlike the older vaccines, new vaccines won’t require cold storage,” Pelka says. “They will be administered orally or nasally, with no needles required and at a much lower cost to manufacture. Our research is focused on exploring innovative technologies to produce safe and effective vaccines for diverse populations right here at home.”

The Impact

The major impact of the new research partnership and the facilities at UM will be that should another pandemic arise, response time will be greatly reduced, with the ability to create and produce made-in-Canada vaccines for Canadians who want them.

There will be economic benefits that come with the new facility as well, says Pelka.

“Construction will create jobs initially. Then, once the facilities are up and running, there will be lots of growth opportunities in Manitoba – new jobs in research and manufacturing, as well as training for the next generation of innovators.”

In essence, being a central part of viral research and vaccine development will add a new dimension to Manitoba’s health-care system and economy. 

Dr. Jason Kindrachuk, associate professor of medical microbiology and infectious diseases

Dr. Jason Kindrachuk, UM Canada Research Chair in the molecular pathogenesis of emerging viruses, associate professor of medical microbiology and infectious diseases, researcher with the Children’s Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba and a lead member of the Prairie Hub, says the world-leading research and facilities will take vaccine development and delivery to a new level.

“These new, cutting-edge facilities will provide a unique opportunity for rapid identification of new emerging public health threats and inform the design and development of new therapeutics, diagnostics and vaccines to increase epidemic and pandemic preparedness and response in Manitoba,” says Kindrachuk.

“Beyond the scientific advances, the facilities will make Manitoba more competitive in attracting and retaining top research talent to study and work here.”

“Lessons have been learned,” Pelka says. “Research is going well. We’re entering an exciting time for the university and country. If another pandemic happens, we’ll be ready to make a vaccine quickly and stop it as soon as we can. And the university, along with its partners, will play a big role in making that happen.”

For nearly 150 years, the University of Manitoba has transformed lives through groundbreaking research and homegrown innovation. We push the boundaries of knowledge and do the hard work here in Manitoba to move our community and the world forward. Our researchers tackle society’s most pressing challenges, from health care and sustainability to Arctic accessibility and security, delivering solutions that make a real impact. With a spirit of determination and discovery, we are shaping a better future for our province and beyond.

Read The Free Press story here. 

Explainable AI (XAI), a subset of the technology, could help us do just that by justifying a model‘s decisions. And now, researchers are using XAI to not only scrutinize predictive AI models more closely, but also to peer deeper into the field of chemistry.

The researchers present their results at the fall meeting of the American Chemical Society.

AI’s vast number of uses has made it almost ubiquitous in today’s technological landscape. However, many AI models are black boxes, meaning it’s not clear exactly what steps are taken to produce a result. And when that result is something like a potential drug molecule, not understanding the steps might stir up skepticism with scientists and the public alike.

“As scientists, we like justification,” explains Rebecca Davis, a chemistry professor at the University of Manitoba. “If we can come up with models that help provide some insight into how AI makes its decisions, it could potentially make scientists more comfortable with these methodologies.”

To read the full article, please visit Phys.org

Dr. Pelka, a professor in the Department of Microbiology in the Faculty of Science at UM, along with researchers at the Universities of Alberta, Saskatchewan and Calgary, recently received $57 million in critical funding to conduct world-leading vaccine and biomanufacturing research in two new labs at the Fort Garry and Bannatyne campuses. It means UM will be perfectly positioned to play a significant role in addressing future pandemic threats in Canada and around the world.

The work of other UM researchers such as Dr. Keith Fowkes and Dr. Jason Kindrachuk will also provide critical insights to this field of research.

UM Faces & Spaces is a monthly feature showcasing the people and places across UM that are transforming the student experience, advancing innovation in research, driving change and creating a lasting impact here in Manitoba and globally. For more stories go to our YouTube playlist.

The funding was provided by the government of Canada and includes investments from the Canada Biomedical Research Fund and Canada Foundation for Innovation’s Biosciences Research Infrastructure Fund.

To read the full article, please visit Global News Winnipeg.

You can upload your proof of vaccination on UM’s secure site – it’s quick and easy, with people reporting that it took them only two minutes.

If you are an international student who was vaccinated outside of Canada, you can upload the proof of vaccination you used when you entered Canada. Here is what you need to know.

Check if you are fully vaccinated

To be considered fully vaccinated against COVID-19, you must meet the provincial health guidelines.

According to the province’s website, individuals are considered fully immunized:

• two weeks after their second dose in a two-dose series, such as the Pfizer, Moderna, or Astra Zeneca vaccines, or
• two weeks after a single-dose vaccine, such as Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine

Individuals who have received one or two doses of COVID-19 vaccines outside of Canada that were not approved in Canada but were approved by the World Health Organization (WHO), require a dose of Pfizer or Moderna to be considered fully immunized. This dose can be administered at supersites, pop-ups or mobile clinics, or by a health care provider or pharmacist.

If you have received three doses of a vaccine not approved by Health Canada, you are also considered fully immunized.

Upload your proof of vaccination to UM’s secure portal

 If you were vaccinated in Manitoba, upload an image of your QR code from your Manitoba Digital Immunization Card. If you are unable to get a Manitoba digital or physical immunization card, upload an image or a file of your record of vaccination.

UM is accepting proof of vaccination from outside of Canada. If you were vaccinated in another country, you can upload the proof of vaccination you used when authorized to enter Canada.

UM is also accepting proof of vaccination from other provinces and territories.

Once you’ve uploaded your document, your information will be verified and you will only be contacted if the university requires further information.

Manitoba vaccination card

If you are fully immunized and would like to get a Manitoba immunization card or record, please visit the Manitoba COVID-19 Vaccine website for information on this topic.

This Manitoba immunization card, which contains a QR code, is used to validate your proof of immunization for non-medical services, including travel, access to sports and entertainment venues, restaurants, bars and lounges and other businesses.

If you are fully vaccinated and have not already done so, visit the vaccination registration site right away, to upload your proof of vaccination before this Sunday. This includes all staff who are working remotely, and students who are learning remotely.

Effective Nov. 15 and for the rest of the Fall Term, UM will be monitoring to ensure that employees and students have either submitted proof of vaccination or are attending UM’s rapid testing site. 

Anyone who has not uploaded proof of vaccination must participate in UM’s rapid testing program and have a negative COVID-19 test result before participating in on-campus activities.

Thank you for your attention to this crucial health and safety matter.

Call ahead to book your appointment; UHS is limited to two incoming calls and any callers beyond that will be disconnected automatically. If this happens, please try again.

Available dates: Dates vary. Call for current available dates.

Hours: 8:30 a.m. – 3:45 p.m.

Call now: 204-474-8411

Location: University Health Service (UHS) can be found in the ACW-Lot temporary trailer (behind the Isbister building on Fort Garry campus).

Check back often, as UHS is expecting to be offering vaccines on an ongoing basis.  Check the UHS webpage for updates, resources and additional service information.

For more information about vaccines and UM’s vaccine requirement, please visit our Vaccine Information page.

With thanks to Naomi Andrew, Vice-President (Administration) and her team, today, we are introducing the first step in this process and asking all UM employees and students to immediately upload proof of full vaccination to our secure website. Employees and students are required to upload their proof of vaccination whether they intend to be working or learning on or off campus during the term.

Individuals have until November 14^th to upload proof of full immunization. All individuals who do not submit such proof will be considered unvaccinated.

Proof can be a photograph of your Manitoba Health QR code, your vaccination card, or your vaccination record. Unless we see a change to public health requirements, you should only need to upload your vaccination proof once during the 2021-2022 academic year.

Your vaccination status is being verified under the authority of The University of Manitoba Act and will be used for the purpose of addressing the ongoing health and safety risks posed by COVID-19. We have taken all necessary steps to ensure we protect your privacy. Other than your name, the QR code contains no personal health information or data. Please visit our COVID-19 vaccination information page for more details.

We expect to have a procedure established within the next few weeks to support rapid asymptomatic testing of all those accessing a UM campus who have not provided verification of full immunization.  Additional restrictions may also apply to these individuals. Details on the UM rapid asymptomatic  testing program, and on the process for requesting an exemption from the mandatory vaccination requirement will be coming out very shortly.

Owing to its connection to the health care system, an asymptomatic testing protocol will be implemented immediately (September 14) for all individuals accessing the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, including all buildings on the Bannatyne campus and the Helen Glass Building on the Fort Garry campus.  Individuals will have their vaccination status visually verified at approved access points. Those unable to provide proof of full immunization will receive an on-site rapid test.

A rapid testing program will be operational soon for the Fort Garry Campus and other satellite campuses with details announced once the approach is finalized.

Thank you for your cooperation and for your commitment to supporting the health and safety of our entire University of Manitoba community.

Now that COVID-19 vaccine eligibility has expanded to everyone over the age of 12 in Manitoba, we checked in with Dr. Pierre Plourde, professor of Community Health Sciences and Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases at the Max Rady College of Medicine, on the questions about vaccines we all want to know.

Plourde is also a medical officer of health with the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority and is the medical director of three areas in the WRHA—Healthy Sexuality and Harm Reduction, Travel Health and Tropical Medicine Services, and Integrated Tuberculosis Services. He is also a member of the UM Health and Safety Committee.

Dr. Pierre Plourde

Can you explain how the COVID-19 vaccines work? 
COVID-19 vaccines work by stimulating your body to produce an immune response against the outer spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19), thus neutralizing the virus so that it is unable to cause infection. Developing immunity through vaccination results in a significantly reduced risk of becoming infected or of becoming severely ill if you do become infected.

Although previous infection with SARS-CoV-2 provides some immune protection to one strain of the virus, COVID-19 vaccines are more effective in providing broader immune protection against variant strains.

How do we know they’re safe? 
COVID-19 vaccines are safe. Like all vaccines, evaluation of safety requires rigorously performed research involving tens of thousands of individuals, followed by thorough Health Canada review of the research around the safety and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines. This process is also followed by many other countries. All vaccines must go through this process before they can be widely used. Furthermore, once in general use, with hundreds of thousands of doses administered, all vaccines are closely monitored for safety and effectiveness once again. This is how rare serious adverse events can be properly identified.

How were the vaccines developed in such a short amount of time?
Researchers were not starting from scratch when SARS-CoV-2 appeared. Coronaviruses which cause severe respiratory disease (SARS-CoV-1 from 2003 and MERS from 2012) had already been studied for years, and it was already known that the viral spike (S) protein was the most likely target for an effective vaccine.

Thanks to advances in genomic sequencing, researchers successfully uncovered the viral sequence of SARS-CoV-2 within 10 days of the first reported pneumonia cases in Wuhan, China. This information was circulated worldwide, enabling many researchers to begin vaccine development at the same time. 

Large numbers of volunteers who came forward in early vaccine trials made it easier to rapidly measure vaccine efficacy in relatively short periods of time; combined with shorter intervals between initial immunization and booster doses (at 21-28 days) and large amounts of circulating SARS-CoV-2 virus in the community, it was easier (and faster) to determine vaccine efficacies between placebo- and vaccine-receiving recipients within weeks to months rather than months to years. 

Finally, some would say that there might have been a little luck involved in that the amazing efficacy (and safety) of mRNA vaccines made it easier to rapidly advance regulatory approvals for these vaccines.

Should people wait for a specific vaccine? 
At this stage of the vaccine campaign, there are no longer supply concerns. The mRNA vaccines are widely available through many channels, including supersites, urban Indigenous clinics, and many doctors’ offices and pharmacies. People can find a location for their next needed dose on the province’s Vaccine Finder.

How effective are the vaccines? 
COVID-19 vaccines are highly effective (greater than 90 per cent) in preventing severe COVID-19 infections, and in preventing hospitalizations and ICU admissions if you get sick with COVID-19. The highest level of protection is achieved after receiving two doses of the vaccines currently available in Canada. But protection after even one dose is still substantial (75 to 80 per cent). The effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccines are among the highest of any vaccine ever produced.

What are the benefits of getting vaccinated?
Once vaccinated, the chance of becoming seriously ill with COVID-19 and being admitted to a hospital intensive care unit is dramatically reduced. Getting vaccinated will not only help prevent you from getting COVID-19 or from getting very sick from COVID-19, but it will also prevent you from spreading the virus thus further protecting the health of your family, friends and colleagues, and will limit the strain on our health care system. 

What can I do after getting my first shot? 
No vaccine is 100 per cent protective. You can still become infected with COVID-19 after receiving the vaccine, and you could still spread it to others. The vaccines don’t offer protection from COVID-19 until two to three weeks after receiving it. Therefore, after getting your first or second shot, it is still important to continue wearing a mask, to continue practicing physical distancing, to continue washing your hands, to continue practicing good cough hygiene, and to follow all other public health recommendations to reduce further spread of the virus. All of these public health measures will reduce the spread of all of the other respiratory viruses that are and will be circulating in our community this fall and winter.

Will the pandemic end if everyone gets vaccinated? 
We cannot predict how or when the pandemic will end. However, the higher the proportion of the population that gets vaccinated, the greater likelihood that the SARS-CoV-2 virus (and the different variants of concern) will no longer be able to rapidly spread, bringing the pandemic to an end.

If you have any questions, please contact safereturn@umanitoba.ca 

Book a vaccine appointment

UM is offering vaccine shots on campus
University Health Service is currently offering both Moderna and Pfizer to the general public by appointment only by calling 204-474-8411, Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m.-3:45 p.m. For more information, refer to University Health Service.

Off-campus options
For Manitoba-wide vaccination options, visit https://protectmb.ca/.

If you have any questions, please contact safereturn@umanitoba.ca