Vietnam to test type/H5N1 vaccine on humans

14:08' 05/06/2007 (GMT+7)

VietNamNet Bridge – The State Scientific and Technology Council has agreed in principle to test locally-made type A/H5N1 vaccine on humans, reported the Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, the vaccine producer. Scientists injected the vaccine for some monkeys and analysed those monkeys’ serum. After being diluted 64 times, scientists still found out a volume of antibody in the serum. This is the significant factor that makes scientists decide to test the vaccine on humans. The Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology is performing necessary formalities to get permission from the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Science and Technology for the test. The Nha Trang Vaccine and Bio-medical Institute also reports that it is completing its research of type A/H5N1 vaccine for humans. According to the institute’s director, Dr. Le Van Hiep, the institute has completed the production process of the vaccine on eggs with embryos and produced nine batches of vaccine (10,000 doses), which meet verification standards of the on-the-spot laboratory. The institute has sent 5,000 doses to the National Institute for Vaccine and Bio-medical Verification for testing. The institute will finalise this state project this year’s end. Notably, the production process of type A/H5N1 vaccine of the Nha Trang Vaccine and Bio-medical Institute is praised by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and this organisation has provided the institute with $25,000 for experimental production of the vaccine. The Nha Trang Vaccine and Bio-medical Institute is one of six units producing this kind of vaccine on a trial basis which is being considered by WHO to be granted with $2 million for their task. (Source: SGGP)