The COVIVAC COVID-19 vaccine is produced by the Institute of Vaccines and Medical Biologicals (IVAC) (Source: Ministry of Health)Speaking at a meeting of the special working group on COVID-19 vaccinedevelopment and clinical trials on July 17, Thuan said COVID-19 vaccine isa matter of paramount concern to the Vietnamese Party and State leaders. PrimeMinister Pham Minh Chinh, has asked World Health Organisation (WHO) experts tohelp Vietnam with COVID-19 vaccine research and production to ensure vaccine self-supply.
This would help the research and clinical trials of Nanocovax and COVIVACvaccines, two candidates making the most progress in the four under developmentin Vietnam, he said.
Thuan emphasised that the issue is how to make full use of the support from WHOexperts in the accreditation of laboratories, the recognition of clinical trialprocedures and most importantly the recognition of Vietnam’s own COVID-19vaccine towards vaccine self-sufficiency, and furthermore, vaccine exports.
The health official also suggested that members of the Special Working Groupwork to their best capacity in providing “maximum support to domesticresearchers and manufacturers of COVID-19 vaccines,” with most flexible andbest possible assistance to the ones in need of support.
The National Institute for Hygiene and Epidemiology in Hanoi and HCM CityPasteur Institute, two focal points in organising vaccine clinical trials, wereasked to proactively prepare the necessary conditions both in terms ofhuman resources, equipment and facilities, etc. to carry out necessarycomponents in trials of transferred vaccines.
The Ministry of Health will soon submit to the Government a plan to use thebudget from the National COVID-19 Vaccine Fund to support the implementation ofphase 3 clinical trials for domestically developed vaccines as well astransferred vaccines, and request the Government to direct relevantministries and agencies to coordinate with the health ministry in participatingin clinical trial studies to ensure safety, progress and efficiency.
Thuan asked that members join a Viber group, which will also include thecontacts of health ministry’s leaders, to have timely exchanges on mattersconcerning vaccine research and development.
“Science matters the most in the research and development of domestic COVID-19vaccines, but flexibility will also be an important issue to consider. Westrive to have at least one manufacturer making a successful homegrown COVID-19vaccine by the end of 2021 at the earliest,” the health official stressed.
Nanogen, the developer of the Nano Covax vaccine, this week said it hasadministered the first jab to 13,000 volunteers in its phase 3 human trials,with the second dose expected to be given before end of August, eyeing fullclinical data for reviews this year.
The Covivac vaccine, by the Institution of Vaccine and Biological Medical in NhaTrang city, wrapped up phase 1 in late June and plans to carry out phase 2soon./.
VNA
