Vietnam likely to produce first homegrown COVID-19 vaccines this year

The MoH also revealed that the research team for the NanoCovax vaccine at the Vietnam Military Medical Academy are due to report the results of the second phase of clinical trials on April 26, with the results proving to be effective as expected.

During the second phase of trials, the research team have conducted clinical trials of the NanoCovax vaccine, with the newly-detected mutated strain of the SARS-CoV-2 virus including the B.1.1.7 variant from the UK, with the results also proving effective.

Moving forward, the research team are set to report to the National Council for Ethics in Biomedical Research for the final conclusion on April 27 in order to select the optimal dosage before moving onto the third phase of trials from May 5.

With regard to the third phase, human trials to test the NanoCovax vaccine will be conducted on between 10,000 and 15,000 volunteers, including on foreigners. Roughly 800 people have so far registered to become volunteers at the Military Medical Academy.

Furthermore, the third phase of clinical trials are anticipated to finish by the end of September, with the country likely to produce its first locally-made COVID-19 vaccine this year.

NanoCovax represents the first Vietnamese vaccine to make it to the human clinical trial stage and is being developed and researched by Nanogen Biotechnology Joint Stock Company.

With regard to the trial progress of the COVIVAC vaccine, Asso. Prof. Dr. Vu Dinh Thiem, director of the Center for Clinical Trials of the Central Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, said all 120 volunteers received their first jab on April 17. Indeed, as of April 26, a total of 36 people have been given two doses of the COVIVAC vaccine.

Dr. Thiem added that 30 volunteers will continue to receive their second dose of the COVIVAC vaccine this week, with all 120 volunteers being given their second shot by May 15.

Moreover, COVIVAC is the second COVID-19 vaccine which has been researched and produced by the Institute of Vaccines and Medical Biologicals (IVAC) at the Hanoi Medical University.

The first phase of clinical trials has been implemented at the Hanoi Medical University, with 120 healthy volunteers aged between 18 and 59 participating in them.

Dr. Duong Huu Thai, director of the Institute of Vaccines and Medical Biologicals (IVAC), said relevant agencies have been speeding up the process of human trials of the vaccine, with the second phase beginning in June.