Vietnam begins phase 2 of local COVID-19 vaccine trials

• Volunteers receive highest dose of Nanocovax COVID-19 vaccine
• Vietnam secures 30 million doses of AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine

Nanocovax is Vietnam’s first COVID-19 vaccine reaching the human trial stage. It is developed by Nanogen Pharmaceutical Biotechnology JSC and the Military Medical University in Hanoi.

The testing process took place simultaneously at the Vietnam Military Medical Academy in Hanoi and in the Mekong Delta province of Long An.

The second phase of human trial is expected to see the participation of up to 560 volunteers aged 18-60. The volunteers are due to receive doses of 25mcg, 50mcg, and 75mcg.

Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam visits voluteers.

In Hanoi, Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam has visited and encouraged volunteers at the Military Medical Academy.

According to Major General Do Quyet, Director of the Military Medical Academy, results of the first phase showed that it is safe and has no serious complications. 

"We have been prepared for all scenarios and ensured safety for all volunteers", he affirmed.

According to the Ministry of Health, the trial period will be shortened from six to three months whilst still ensuring a professional and technical process. Moving forward, the third phase is anticipated to begin in May.

Earlier, on February 24, the first batch of 117,600 doses of Oxford/AstraZeneca's Covid-19 vaccine has arrived in HCMC's Tan Son Nhat Airport.

The first batch of Oxford/AstraZeneca's Covid-19 vaccine arrives in HCMC's Tan Son Nhat Airport.

The Ministry of Health last month announced that it has approved the use of Astra Zeneca COVID-19 vaccine for pandemic prevention and control in Vietnam. 

AstraZeneca and Vietnam Vaccine JSC (VNVC) are partnering to deliver 30 million doses of AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine to Vietnam, starting from the first half of 2021. This approval and vaccine supply agreement mark another important milestone in Vietnam’s fight against the pandemic.

COVID-19 vaccine AstraZeneca was co-invented by the University of Oxford and its spin-out company, Vaccitech. It uses a replication-deficient chimpanzee viral vector based on a weakened version of a common cold virus (adenovirus) that causes infections in chimpanzees and contains the genetic material of the SARS-CoV-2 virus spike protein. After vaccination, the surface spike protein is produced, priming the immune system to attack the SARS-CoV-2 virus if it later infects the body.