COVID-19 vaccine to begin human testing in Vietnam later this year
(VOVWORLD) - Vietnam could be able to conduct novel coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine trials on humans by the end of the year, providing that procedures for research and production of the vaccine are deployed in time, said Acting Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long.
 Acting Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long |
At seminar on Wednesday, Long emphasized the need to strengthen co-operation between the government, management agencies, vaccine manufacturers, researchers, and other related stakeholders to successfully develop COVID-19 vaccine in the near future, a breakthrough that is expected to make a significant contribution in the global fight against the pandemic.
Long said: “The Ministry of Health has asked agencies to accelerate testing and licensing procedures while ensuring the quality of the vaccine. We are preparing investment projects and vaccine funds to ensure that Vietnamese people can receive vaccines as early as possible.”
As of July 15, there were a total of 163 candidate vaccines in development, of which 23 vaccines were being trialed on humans, with the remaining 140 candidates in the pre-clinical stage, including vaccines being developed by Vietnam.