Vietnam to produce anti-H1N1 vaccine in late 2014
The Institute for Vaccines and Medical Biologicals under the Health
Ministry is stepping up preparations for production of a vaccine against
H1N1 flu virus in late 2014 or early 2015.
The Institute for Vaccines and Medical Biologicals under the Health
Ministry is stepping up preparations for production of a vaccine against
H1N1 flu virus in late 2014 or early 2015.
With approval from the Health Ministry, the institute conducted the first trial of its vaccine, A/H1N1/09, on 48 healthy people in Ben Luc district, southern Long An province from April to November 2012 to have an assessment of the vaccine’s effects and its safeness.
The trial has achieved good results as expected, so the institute expects to ask for the ministry’s permission at the end of this month to conduct the second trial on 200-300 people.
If everything continues going smoothly, the last trial will be carried out on 1,000 people before the vaccine can be produced en masse in late next year or early 2015, said Duong Huu Thai, deputy head of the institute.
Each trial will last for six months, during which every aspects of the vaccine will be examined and assessed, he added.
The price of H1N1 vaccine produced by the institute will be equal to only one-thirds of those imported, Thai said.
The H1N1 flu virus caused a world-wide pandemic in 2009. It is now a human seasonal flu virus that also circulates in pigs. The virus spreads between people in the same way that other seasonal flu viruses spread.
So far this year the virus has caused at least four deaths in Vietnam.
The institute has also been assigned by the ministry to produce another vaccine against the H5N1 avian flu virus and has received a funding of about 3 million USD from the Programme for Appropriate Technology in Health of the US Department of Health and Human Services’ Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA).-VNA/Tuoitrenews
With approval from the Health Ministry, the institute conducted the first trial of its vaccine, A/H1N1/09, on 48 healthy people in Ben Luc district, southern Long An province from April to November 2012 to have an assessment of the vaccine’s effects and its safeness.
The trial has achieved good results as expected, so the institute expects to ask for the ministry’s permission at the end of this month to conduct the second trial on 200-300 people.
If everything continues going smoothly, the last trial will be carried out on 1,000 people before the vaccine can be produced en masse in late next year or early 2015, said Duong Huu Thai, deputy head of the institute.
Each trial will last for six months, during which every aspects of the vaccine will be examined and assessed, he added.
The price of H1N1 vaccine produced by the institute will be equal to only one-thirds of those imported, Thai said.
The H1N1 flu virus caused a world-wide pandemic in 2009. It is now a human seasonal flu virus that also circulates in pigs. The virus spreads between people in the same way that other seasonal flu viruses spread.
So far this year the virus has caused at least four deaths in Vietnam.
The institute has also been assigned by the ministry to produce another vaccine against the H5N1 avian flu virus and has received a funding of about 3 million USD from the Programme for Appropriate Technology in Health of the US Department of Health and Human Services’ Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA).-VNA/Tuoitrenews
You should also see
PM urges village elders, citizens to help preserve cultural heritage
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has asked village elders and chiefs, skilled artisans and reputable citizens to make greater efforts to preserve and promote tangible and intangible cultural heritage, which is the quintessence and core value of the nation.
See more
Health
Free surgeries offered for cleft palate children in Thua Thien-Hue
About 80 children with cleft palate in the central province of Thua Thien-Hue and surrounding localities are to receive free check-ups and surgeries from now until April 18.
Health
Vietnam to host first int’l airway management conference
International airway experts from across the world, including the United Kingdom, United States of America, France, Italy, New Zealand, and experts from Vietnam will gather at the first South East Asian Conference of the World Alliance of Airway Management (WAAM) in Hanoi on April 13-14.
Health
Health insurance coverage necessary for all TB patients: Deputy PM
Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha on April 8 requested the Ministry of Health to work with the Vietnam Social Security and the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs to provide health insurance coverage for all tuberculosis (TB) patients.
Health
Blood donation – journey of love sharing
April 7 was designated as the “All People’s Voluntary Blood Donation Day” 24 years ago and, ever since, the blood donation movement has attracted the participation of tens of thousands of people across the country.
Health
Hundreds of thousands to be screened for chronic diseases through AI platforms
Hundreds of thousands of people will be screened for cardiovascular and chronic kidney diseases through AI platforms this year, and over 20,000 patients will be advised to undergo testing to assess chronic kidney disease.
