WHO to Fund $4.2M to Help Vietnam Produce Influenza Vaccines

The World Health Organization (WHO) has pledged to fund $4.2 million to help Vietnam to produce vaccines against A/H5N1, A/H1N1 and seasonal flu diseases by using embryonated eggs, the Lao Dong newspaper reported. The Institute of Vaccines and Medical Biologicals (IVAC) located in the central province of Khanh Hoa’s Nha Trang City will use the funding for a vaccine production facility in Cam Lam district. Vietnam has yet found more A/H1N1 outbreaks since early this year, Tran Khac Phu, deputy head of the Ministry of Health’s Department of Preventive Medicine and Environment said. Vietnam has recorded 58 A/H1N1-related fatalities in total since the deadly virus was firstly detected last May. The country has reported 58 A/H5N1 deaths since 2003.