80-year-old vaccine researcher honoured with Hero of Labour title

80-year-old Prof. Dr. Huynh Thi Phuong Lien (left) is presented with the title of “ in the “Doi Moi” (Renewal) Period” by Vice President Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh on January 19. (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi (VNA) – Prof. Dr. Huynh Thi Phuong Lien
has been awarded with the title of “Hero of Labour in the “Doi Moi” (Renewal)
Period” in recognition of her outstanding contributions to the development of
the in Vietnam from 2009 – 2019.

Lien is a senior specialist at the State-owned Company
for Vaccine and Biological Production No.1 () under the Ministry of
Health, who had 53 years of experience in medicine.

The title was presented to the 80-year-old professor by
Vice President Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh, who is also the First Vice President of the
Central Council for Emulation and Rewards, in a ceremony held at the
Hanoi-based Central Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology on January 19.

Prof. Dr. delivers an acceptance speech during the ceremony. (Photo: VNA)

The Labour Hero title is to honour individuals with
exceptional achievements in work and innovation, contributing to the building
of socialism in Vietnam and safeguarding the country.

Speaking at the ceremony, Minister of Health Prof. Dr.
Nguyen Thanh Long said the noble title is a recognition by the Party and State
for the professor’s relentless work and daring and creative spirit in vaccine
research and application, which is critical to the country’s efforts to combat
communicable diseases and protect people’s well-being.

Despite many challenges, Lien and her co-workers at
Vabiotech have successfully produced vaccines against cholera, typhoid fever,
smallpox and Japanese encephalitis, and participated in twelve State-level scientific
studies.

The first-generation vaccine against Japanese
encephalitis, developed by her team at Vabiotech, has been used in the National
Expanded Programme on Immunisation since 1997. It is also the first
made-in-Vietnam vaccine exported overseas.

Vabiotech is among four vaccine manufacturers in Vietnam
that have been developing vaccines against the COVID-19./.