Vietnam Starts 2nd Trial of Locally-Made Polio Vaccine for Children

Vietnam’s Center for Research and Production of Vaccines and Biologicals has recently started the second phase of a test of the locally made polio vaccine, or IPOVAC vaccine, on 240 children in 10 districts of northern province of Phu Tho. The children are all healthy and qualified for the vaccinations and were carefully selected for the pilot program. Importantly, all parents have agreed with the program. According to the program, all of the children will receive three vaccine shots. Each child will have his or her blood test after the first and the third shot for the center to closely monitor the children’s health. Doctor Vu Dinh Thiem, head of Epidemiology department of the National Institute of Hygiene And Epidemiology said that the health ministry has carried pilot program in the locality before, especially in Thanh Son district where Japanese encephalitis and Rotavirus vaccines were tested. This means health officials in the locality have experience on the subject. The second phase of the program will be carried out from December 2015 to July 2016. If this phase succeed, the center will carry one more phase on over 1,000 children. The first phase was successfully carried out in 60 healthy adults. The Vietnamese authorities believe they can put the locally made vaccines out in the public in 2018. This vaccine is part of the “six in one” vaccine that the government and the health ministry have put on the National Production Program. Meanwhile, Vietnam has faced a shortage of paid vaccines in 2015 while many parents decline the call by the authorities to participate in the expanded immunization program provided freely by the government due to the high dead rate. (baochinhphu.vn Jan 12)