The IVACFLU-S vaccines are displayed at the under the Ministry of Health. (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA)
– The , which have been produced in Vietnam to protect
against seasonal flu such as , A/H3N2, and B, are now available on the
market, according to the Institute of Vaccines and Medical Biologicals under
the Ministry of Health.
As many as 50,000
doses of vaccines have been produced for the first time at the cost of between
120,000-180,000 VND (5.2-7.8 USD) per dose, half the cost of imported vaccines.
The influenza
vaccines have been studied and produced based on embryonic egg production
technology in 2010 under co-operation between the institute and the Program for
Appropriate Technology in Health (PATH).
The institute had
undergone multiple phases of clinical trials from 2017 onward. It has proved to
be safe and capable of strengthening adults’ immune systems.
On January 14, 2019,
the vaccines were licensed by the Ministry of Health to protect against
seasonal flu including H1N1, H3N2 and B.
The institute is
capable of manufacturing 1.5 million doses of vaccines per year.
Dr Duong Huu Thai,
Director of the institute, said the vaccines have been shown as safe to improve
the immune systems of people aged between 18 and 60.
Vaccines will be
available in Hai Phong, Khanh Hoa, Long An, and Dong Nai provinces before being
supplied to other localities.
The IVACFLU-S
vaccines are contraindicated for people with a history of hypersensitivity to
the ingredients in the vaccine or allergic to proteins in chicken eggs and
chicken.
Seasonal flu is a
respiratory disease that can lead to fatalities. As many as 650,000 deaths and
about 3-5 million serious cases are recorded due to seasonal flu around the
world each year.-VNA
Source: VietnamPlus
