Volunteers get second Covivac vaccine shots in second trial phase

The second phase, to last until September 20, is held in Vu Thu district, the northern province of Thai Binh. (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi (VNA) – Volunteers in the second
phase of the clinical trials of homegrown Covivac vaccine
got their second shots on September 15.

More than 50 volunteers received the jabs in the
morning, and the number is expected to reach about 80 on the day, according to
Associate Prof. Dr. Vu Dinh Thiem, Director of the National Institute of Hygiene
and Epidemiology (NIHE)’s clinical trial centre.

The second phase, to last until September 20, is held
in Vu Thu district, the northern province of Thai Binh. It saw the
participation of 374 volunteers who have been chosen and classified into three
groups for the 3 mcg and 6 mcg dosages and a dose of vaccine.

Covivac has been developed and produced by the
Institute of Vaccines and Medical Biologicals (IVAC). It is the second
homegrown vaccine approved by the Ministry of Health for clinical trials, after
Nano Covax.

Dr. Duong Huu Thai, IVAC Director, said the third
phase of the human trials is expected to begin in December after the safety and
immunogenicity in the second phase are confirmed.

The third phase would be conducted on more than 4,000
volunteers in Khanh Hoa, Bac Ninh and Thai Binh provinces.

Nguyen Ngo Quang, Deputy Director of the Department of
Science, Technology and Training under the Ministry of Health, said at least
a homegrown vaccine will be licensed for circulation by the end of this year.

For Nano Covax, Quang said the producer and researchers
on September 14 submitted the supplemented dossier on the vaccine and completed
registration procedures.

Regarding the clinical trials of ARCT-154, a mRNA
vaccine developed by US company Arcturus Therapeutics, he said the health
ministry has approved the implementation of the second and third trial phases./.