Second phase of Nano Covax human trials to begin this month
The second phase of the human trials of Nano Covax, a homegrown COVID-19 vaccine, will begin on February 26, following the first phase that has been proven safe.
An area where volunteers will be monitored after they receive shots at the Vietnam Military Medical University (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – The second phase of thehuman trials of Nano Covax, a homegrown COVID-19 vaccine, will begin on February26, following the first phase that has been proven safe.
As many as 560 volunteers, aged from 18 to 65, willparticipate in the second phase, according to Nguyen Ngo Quang, Deputy Directorof the Department of Science, Technology and Training under the Ministry ofHealth.
The testing will be carried out at the VietnamMilitary Medical University in Hanoi and in the Mekong Delta province of Long An by the HCM City-based Pasteur Institute.
Unlike the first phase when volunteers got the dosesof 25mcg, 50mcg and 75mcg, this phase’s volunteers will be injected with only50mcg and 75mcg doses, according to the health official.
Most of the volunteers of the first phase that begun onDecember 17, 2020 are in stable conditions after vaccination. Only few reported pain at the injection spot and fever that disappeared after one to two days.
Developed by the Nanogen Pharmaceutical BiotechnologyJSC, Nano Covax is the first Vietnam-made COVID-19 vaccine to enter humantrials, with another two from other manufacturers to follow in February andMarch.
Vietnam is one of the 40 countries that have conductedhuman trials of a COVID-19 vaccine.
The country also has several other COVID-19 candidatevaccines being developed, by the Institute of Vaccines and Medical Biologicals(IVAC), the Company for Vaccine and Biological Production No.1 (VABIOTECH), andthe Centre for Research and Production of Vaccines and Biologicals (POLYVAC)./.
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The Drug Administration of Vietnam under the Ministry of Health has approved the import of the first 204,000 doses of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine of the UK for emergency use.
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Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Vu Trung, Director of the Pasteur Institute, said that under the MoU, the two sides committed to promoting diverse and practical collaborative activities, including joint conferences and workshops, exchanges of scholars, researchers and students, sharing academic materials, and the development of specific programmes and projects in scientific research, training, and epidemic prevention.
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An area where volunteers will be monitored after they receive shots at the Vietnam Military Medical University (Photo: VNA) 
