The Saskatchewan Health Authority is partnering with VIDO-InterVac on the University of Saskatchewan campus to safely decontaminate and reuse the N95 respiratory masks, which are usually thrown away after being used.

Director of the Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization – International Vaccine Centre, Dr. Volker Gerdts, hopes this will help mitigate a shortage of supply.

VIDO-InterVac will take the used masks and decontaminate them through a procedure the vaccine centre uses to decontaminate its rooms and equipment in its containment Level 3 facility.

These masks will be an emergency back-up supply for hospitals if the need arises during the pandemic.

Dr. Gerdts says the equipment for this procedure is only available in a few places in North America, and they can be ready as early as next week to provide this decontamination service if needed.

The possibility of using this same process to decontaminate other used personal protective equipment may also be explored.

(CJWW)