Domestic COVID-19 vaccines can only be approved based on full scientific data

Dr. Nguyen Ngo Quang, Deputy Director of the Health Ministry’s Department for Science, Technology and Training made the said statement in response to the Nanogen Pharmaceutical Biotechnology JSC’s proposal for validating its Nano Covax, a COVID-19 vaccine candidate, for emergency use.

He clearly stated: “The licensing of a vaccine for emergency use depends on many factors, and the MoH needs scientific data before it makes a decision. 

Nano Covax vaccines. Photo: Quynh Tran.

Moreover, Dr. Quang stressed the MoH’s absolute support for the development of domestic vaccines, adding that the health sector’s ultimate goal is to protect people’s health, so benefits and risks must be thoroughly considered.

Nano Covax is currently in the third phase of trials, with 1,000 volunteers already getting the shots, representing only a small number compared to the millions of people who will go on to receive the vaccine in future.

"If we are able to access imported vaccines such as Pfizer, Moderna, Sputnik V and others approved by the World Health Organisation, priority will be given to import sources. So far this year, over 2.5 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine have been delivered to Vietnam”, said Dr. Quang.

As reported, the initial two testing phases of Nano Covax show that all injected volunteers have generated antibodies, whilst the vaccine itself is also effective against lineage B.1.1.7, known as the Alpha variant, which was first identified in the UK. In the third phase, developers will examine if the vaccine is effective against the mutated strain B.1.617.2, also known as the Delta variant, which originated from India.

To date, Vietnam has confirmed nearly 14,000 COVID-19 cases, including nearly 10,500 cases recorded during the latest outbreak which initially started in late April.