Vietnam May Export Vaccines as Producers Meet WHO Requirements

Vietnam may export its vaccines after local producers have met the requirements of the World Health Organization (WHO), said experts from the organization. After a one-week mission to Vietnam from April 9 to review the implementation of the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) in Vietnam, the WHO team announced that all six components under Vietnam’s national regulatory authority for vaccine quality management (NRA) have passed the check with good results. The team, including 14 experts from the WHO and two observers from Russia urged the Department of Preventive Medicine under the Ministry of Health and the post-vaccination monitoring systems at all levels to continue their efforts in the field. During the checking process, the team made field trips to the southern province of Tay Ninh where they had working sessions with the provincial preventive medicine center, the municipal medical center of Tay Ninh city and the medical station of Ward 4, Tay Ninh city. Vietnam has so far produced 11 of the 12 vaccines used in its national vaccination program, said Do Tuan Dat, director of the Vaccine and Biological Production Company No. 1. Of these 11, the one against measles has been placed by the World Health Organization (WHO) among the vaccines meeting global standards, he said. Over the past ten years, Vietnam has adopted international benchmarks and processes in making vaccines. (Dai Bieu Nhan Dan – People’s Deputy Apr 20, Tuoi Tre – Youth March 9)