HCMC – The National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology (NIHE) and the Hanoi Medical University, which are in charge of the human trial of Vietnam’s second Covid-19 vaccine, Covivac, have not been able to recruit as sufficient volunteers as required for the final-phase trial, resulting in the suspension of the clinical trial.
On November 29, a NIHE leader said the institute had received a request for the suspension from the Khanh Hoa-based Institute of Vaccines and Medical Biologicals, the developer of Covivac, the local media reported.
The human trial of the vaccine was initiated in February and the first and second trial phases have been completed with the participation of nearly 600 volunteers. After the two phases, the vaccine proved to be safe and produce a strong immune response.
According to the Ministry of Health, Covid vaccine candidates which are being developed in Vietnam include Nanocovax, ARCT-154, Sputnik V and a vaccine produced by Japan’s Shionogi Inc.
In addition, the United States’ ARCT-154 vaccine, whose production technology has been transferred to Vingroup, has been tested on people. If it meets the requirements, the Ministry of Health may approve it in the first quarter of next year.
