Volunteers sought for second homegrown COVID-19 vaccine trials

People, aged from 18-59 and residing in Hanoi, are encouraged to register for of Vietnam’s COVIVAC (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi (VNA) – People, aged from 18-59 and residing in , can
register for human trials of Vietnam’s second vaccine candidate
COVIVAC from March 5 morning.

They will be divided into five groups, including one group
provided with placebo shots, and their health will be closely monitored within
24 hours after injections.

Each volunteer will have their health checked-up eight times
in 12 months.

After 43 days since the first phase starts and shows good
results, the second phase will be carried out at the medical centre of Thai
Binh province’s Vu Thu district, with 300 volunteers.

The homegrown vaccine has been developed by the Nha
Trang-based Institute of Vaccines and Medical Biologicals (IVAC) and the Hanoi
Medical University since last May, using primary chicken embryo cell culture, a
technique the institute used previously to successfully produce seasonal flu
vaccines.

COVIVAC has undergone pre-clinical trials in India, the US,
and Vietnam, said IVAC Director Dr. Duong Huu Thai, adding that results showed
that it satisfies all conditions to be tested on humans.

The vaccine candidate demonstrated high immunogenicity
during pre-clinical trials. It was created based on studies of new SARS-CoV-2
strains.

This vaccine is expected to have a price of around 60,000
VND (2.59 USD) per dose./.