A Vietnamese health institute has asked for permission from the Health Ministry to test its bird flu vaccine among humans, after it worked successfully on animals.
The Nha Trang Institute of Vaccines and Medical Biological (IVAC) in central Khanh Hoa province said on Friday the first 5,000 doses of its vaccine were tested successfully on rats and chickens.
Last year, the World Health Organization (WHO) funded the institute to the tune of 2.7 million U.S. dollars, helping it build a vaccine factory with annual capacity of 500,000-1,000,000 doses. The factory, still under construction, is expected to become operational next year.
Vietnam's National Hygiene and Epidemiology Institute is testing its bird flu vaccine on 30 volunteers. The locally made vaccine has initially shown its effectiveness and safety.
The World Health Organization has confirmed a total of 106 human cases of bird flu infection, including 52 deaths in Vietnam since the disease started hitting the country in late 2003.
Source: Xinhua
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