Two "made in Vietnam" inactivated seasonal influenza vaccines are expected to be available in 2019 for commercial use, according to the government portal.
Producing vaccines in Vietnam
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This is the result of nine years of international cooperation by the Ministry of Health as well as IVAC to improve Vietnam's vaccine production and pandemic preparation capacity.
The vaccine targets three strains of influenza: A/H1N1, A/H3N2, B and the inactivated influenza A/H5N1 influenza vaccine - a strain of avian influenza. Both vaccines are safe and able to produce immune responses in healthy adults.
The production process was in line with instructions of the World Health Organization (WHO) and was assessed to meet quality standards, IVAC said.
With that success, Vietnam has become a pioneer among low- and middle-income countries in terms of vaccine development and production.
IVAC's efforts to produce its own flu vaccine in the country not only benefit the Vietnamese people but also help to increase the supply of influenza vaccines in the region and in the world.
Vietnam is one of the 14 countries that WHO has ordered the production of influenza vaccines for pandemic prevention in the world. WHO appreciates Vietnam's seasonal influenza vaccine.
The cost of a seasonal influenza vaccine in Vietnam is only one third of seasonal influenza vaccines, costing VND80,000-120,000 (US$3.5-5.3) per dose.
If IVAC is licensed to produce the vaccine it will be sold between VND80,000-120,000 (US$3.5-5.3) per dose. At present, Vietnam imports influenza vaccine at a price of VND240,000-300,000 ($10.6-13.3) per dose.
