Nanogen Company and the Military Medical Academy of Vietnam will officially recruit volunteers for first phase of human trials of made-in-Vietnam Covid-19 vaccine as early as this December.

Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long made the statement at a meeting in Hanoi on December 5 to report the progress of research and production of Covid-19 vaccine in the country.

Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long presided over the meeting to report on research and production of made-in-Vietnam Covid-19 vaccine. Photo: Kinhtedothi.vn

Nanogen is one of the four Vietnamese entities, including Vabiotech, Polyvac and the Institute of Vaccines and Medical Biologicals (IVAC), are researching Covid-19 vaccines. Nanogen’s vaccine will be the first to reach the stage of human trials.

Emphasizing the role and importance of research and production of Covid-19 vaccine, Minister Long said that the ministry had proactively promoted the vaccine study and manufacture activities in the country.

He also asked Vietnam’s vaccine production companies to speed up the progress to soon conduct clinical trials. Accordingly, on December 10, Nanogen in collaboration with the Military Medical Academy will officially carry out the first phase of human trials of made-in-Vietnam Covid-19 vaccine.

“Stakeholders need to immediately prepare for the second phase of clinical trial. We need to be proactive to get the vaccine as soon as possible," said Minister Nguyen Thanh Long.

He added that the Ministry of Health will provide all possible support to shorten all stages for vaccine production units such as streamlining administrative procedures, expediting registration, and licensing product.

The health ministry will report the Prime Minister on the investment policy for vaccine production and will coordinate with relevant agencies to assist them in accessing capital for the vaccine research and production, the minister noted.

Mr. Long asked Polyvac to continue developing Covid-19 vaccine and working closely with with partners, including those from China and Russia, on vaccine manufacturing.

Some 187 companies around the world are developing Covid-19 vaccines, of which 38 are being tested on humans. Vietnam’s health ministry and scientists are hoping to have a commercially-viable Covid-19 vaccine in the fourth quarter of 2021.

Vietnam has also registered to receive priority access to a Covid-19 vaccine when it is available on the market. However, it is not easy to buy Covid-19 vaccines because the demand far exceeds the production capacity. Governments that want to buy the vaccines must make a down payment.