(VOVWORLD) - Over the past 20 years, Vietnam has been researching and developing vaccines against dangerous diseases and has achieved positive results. Vaccines against Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis, Tuberculosis, Hepatitis B, and Japanese Encephalitis have significantly reduced the number of infections and deaths. Polio was essentially eradicated in 2002, while cholera and typhoid were also brought under control.
 Made-in-Vietnam COVID-19 vaccine COVIVAC is developed by the Institute of Vaccines and Medical Biologicals (Photo: VNA) |
Vietnam has mastered the technology and produced vaccines for the Expanded Immunization Program to stamp out dangerous diseases and ensure the health of the community.
Vietnam has four state-owned establishments for vaccine research and production: the Institute of Vaccines and Medical Biologicals (IVAC); the Center for Research and Production of Vaccines and Biologicals (POLYVAC); the Company for Vaccine and Biological Production No.1 (VABIOTECH); and the Vaccine Company Limited of Dalat Pasteur (DAVAC). Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 epidemic, a number of businesses in Vietnam have invested in vaccine research.
COVID-19 vaccine—NanoCovax—produced by the Military Medical Academy and Vietnamese Nanogen Pharmaceutical Biotechnology JSC entered its third-phase clinical trial in which 14,000 have been vaccinated. According to Nanogen Director Do Minh Sy, four vaccine development technologies used in the world are: inactivated vaccines, adenovirus-based vaccines, vaccines using mRNA technology, and vaccines using recombinant protein technology.
He said, "Nanogen’s experienced in developing products using recombinant protein technology, so we also used this technology to develop the COVID-19 vaccine candidate Nanocovax."
 Lieutenant General, Professor, Dr. Do Quyet is Director of Military Medical Academy (Photo: VGP) |
Lieutenant General, Professor, Dr. Do Quyet, Director of Military Medical Academy said Nanocovax is currently evaluated as safe with high rate of immunogenicity.
The Academy and Ho Chi Minh City Pasteur Institute have provided vaccines for more than 11,000 people. After completing three phases of clinical trials, the evaluation of the vaccine must be based on the principle of sufficient scientific data and prove it provides the three key factors of immunogenicity, safety and a protective effect, Quyet said. The vaccine is now proved safe which should be officially recognized and asked for license from the Ministry of Health, he added.
Vietnam’s second homegrown candidate vaccine COVIVAC developed by the Institute of Vaccines and Medical Biologicals (IVAC) under the Health Ministry has begun its second stage of clinical trials.
The Covivac vaccine is a liquid based on production technology on chicken eggs with embryos, according to IVAC Director Duong Huu Thai. Its first trail proved that the vaccine is safe, well tolerated, and immunogenic.
Many Vietnamese businesses have signed agreements with foreign companies on technology transfer for vaccines. Conglomerate Vingroup has received mRNA COVID-19 vaccine production technology from Arcturus Therapeutics medicines biotechnology company in the US. Vietnamese firms AIC and Vabiotech have signed a deal with Japan's Shionogi & Co (4507.T) to produce COVID-19 vaccines based on recombinant DNA protein technology.
Vietnam is building a national program for research and production of COVID-19 vaccines and drugs for human use by 2030 and striving to master 30 vaccine technologies and produce at least 20 types of vaccine by 2030.