The IVACFLU-S vaccines are displayed at the Institute of Vaccines and Medical Biologicals under the Ministry of Health. (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA)- The IVACFLU-S vaccines, which have been produced in Vietnam to protectagainst seasonal flu such as A/H1N1, A/H3N2, and B, are now available on themarket, according to the Institute of Vaccines and Medical Biologicals underthe Ministry of Health.
As many as 50,000doses of vaccines have been produced for the first time at the cost of between120,000-180,000 VND (5.2-7.8 USD) per dose, half the cost of imported vaccines.
The influenzavaccines have been studied and produced based on embryonic egg productiontechnology in 2010 under co-operation between the institute and the Program forAppropriate Technology in Health (PATH).
The institute hadundergone multiple phases of clinical trials from 2017 onward. It has proved tobe safe and capable of strengthening adults’ immune systems.
On January 14, 2019,the vaccines were licensed by the Ministry of Health to protect againstseasonal flu including H1N1, H3N2 and B.
The institute iscapable of manufacturing 1.5 million doses of vaccines per year.
Dr Duong Huu Thai,Director of the institute, said the vaccines have been shown as safe to improvethe immune systems of people aged between 18 and 60.
Vaccines will beavailable in Hai Phong, Khanh Hoa, Long An, and Dong Nai provinces before beingsupplied to other localities.
The IVACFLU-Svaccines are contraindicated for people with a history of hypersensitivity tothe ingredients in the vaccine or allergic to proteins in chicken eggs andchicken.
Seasonal flu is arespiratory disease that can lead to fatalities. As many as 650,000 deaths andabout 3-5 million serious cases are recorded due to seasonal flu around theworld each year.-VNA
VNA
