Vietnam to begin human trials of COVID-19 vaccine on Dec. 10

Xuan Thinh Sunday | 12/06/2020 12:48

Photo: suckhoedoisong.vn

Vietnam has been recruiting volunteers for the first stage human trials of a COVID-19 vaccine produced domestically by Nanogen Pharmaceutical, according to Ministry of Health.

The domestic COVID-19 vaccine manufacturers are trying to speed up the progress of researching for the pre-clinical trials. The three units have completed the production process at a laboratory scale.

The companies will cooperate with the Vietnam Military Medical Academy to recruit volunteers for the trial.

Around 20 volunteers, aged 18-40, are expected to be injected with the vaccine during the first phase, said Health Minister Nguyen Thanh Long while chairing a meeting to report on research and production of the vaccine.

At the meeting, experts and manufacturers discussed the progress of implementing vaccine production projects as well as difficulties and problems in the implementation process; solutions for the next period.

He asked relevant agencies to get ready for the second phase of the human clinical trials.

"We must be proactive and get the COVID-19 vaccine as soon as possible," Long said.

Vietnam has four COVID-19 vaccines produced by Nanogen, Vabiotech, Polyvac and the Institute of Vaccines and Medical Biologicals currently under research.

As of Saturday night, The country has recorded 1,365 COVID-19 patients so far, including four imported cases reported Saturday evening.