(VOVworld) – The Ministries of Health and Science and Technology launched a program on Wednesday to produce vaccines on a mass scale for expanded immunization programs.

They aim to produce domestic vaccines for diphtheria, tetanus, whooping-cough, hepatitis B, flu and Japanese encephalitis. Minister of Health Nguyen Thi Kim Tien said: “Ministries including Science and Technology, Finance, Planning and Investment need to follow the policy to renew science and technology so that the program to produce domestic vaccines can be implemented on schedule. We have integrated with the program “Vietnamese people prioritizing Vietnamese medicine” to assure quality and efficiency. The Ministry of Health gives priority to producing medicine, including vaccines in Vietnam”.

So far, Vietnam has managed to produce 10 of 11 vaccines for the expanded immunization programs and aims to export to foreign markets. By 2020, Vietnam aims to produce at least 7 major vaccines for domestic consumption and export.