COVID-19: Made-in-Vietnam vaccine protects people against UK variant
![]() |
Many elderly people have registered for vaccinations during the second phase the Nano Covax vaccine trial. |
Prof. Do Quyet, director of the Vietnam Military Medical Academy, outlined the information as part of a brief announcement during the launch of the second phase of human clinical trials on Nano Covax which took place on February 26 in Hanoi.
“Preliminary research results show that the potent antibodies elicited by Nano Covax prove to be effective against the variant B.1.1.7 from the UK,” said Prof. Quyet.
The country kick-started the initial phase of human trials of Nano Covax last December, marking the first vaccine of its kind to be produced locally by Nanogen Pharmaceutical Biotechnology JSC, one of the four COVID-19 vaccine producers currently operating in the country.
It is now in the process of launching the second phase of trials in both Hanoi and the southern province of Long An with the participation of approximately 560 volunteers aged between 12 and 75.
The second phase is set to be focused on the safety and efficiency of the vaccine, especially the generation of antibodies, as the vaccine will also be tested on elderly people suffering from underlying health issues, according to Prof. Quyet.
“In phase 2 we will continue to evaluate whether these antibodies can resist the variant from South Africa,” he said.
Vietnamese scientists have conducted genome sequencing and found there are five variant strains of the SARS-CoV-2 virus since the initial COVID-19 outbreak erupted in January 2020.
Most notably, variants VOC202012/01 and B.1.1.7 which originate from the UK and A.23.1 from South Africa have recently been detected at COVID-19 hotspots in Hai Duong province and Ho Chi Minh City, respectively.
While locally-made vaccines are currently in the process of undergoing clinical trials, the country is striving to ramp up the import of COVID-19 vaccines as part of the national vaccination campaign.
The initial batch of AstraZeneca vaccine arrived in Ho Chi Minh City on February 24, with more than 117,000 doses landing in the country.
The Ministry of Health (MoH) is due to ramp up the inoculation programme in early March, with priority set to be given to frontline healthcare workers, soldiers, border guards, policemen, along with those on duty in isolation areas and quarantine facilities.
Vietnam requires at least 150 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines for the national vaccination programme this year. However, Health Minister Nguyen Thanh Long believes the country is likely to receive only 90 million doses in 2021.
Along with the import of 60 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine agreed with AstraZeneca and COVAX, the nation is also negotiating to import a further 30 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine of the United States.
The MoH is therefore considering licensing two additional COVID-19 vaccines produced by Moderna of the United States and Generium of Russia.
Related News
![Opportunity to develop "made in Vietnam" renewable energy electrical equipment](https://english.haiquanonline.com.vn/stores/news_dataimages/2024/082024/02/15/croped/3-ts-hu-ng202407250756312024072917593420240802152924.jpg?240804082533)
Opportunity to develop "made in Vietnam" renewable energy electrical equipment
08:25 | 04/08/2024 Headlines
![Criteria "Made in Vietnam" has not been issued for 5 years](https://english.haiquanonline.com.vn/stores/news_dataimages/2023/082023/11/16/croped/0736-vov-hang-lau-3jwfu2023080811084320230811160311.jpg?230815101234)
Criteria "Made in Vietnam" has not been issued for 5 years
10:12 | 15/08/2023 Regulations
![COVID-19 drug-related trafficking prosecuted](https://english.haiquanonline.com.vn/stores/news_dataimages/huyentrang/032023/30/08/croped/4939_1033_1.jpg?230330092308)
COVID-19 drug-related trafficking prosecuted
09:23 | 30/03/2023 Anti-Smuggling
![China recovers border clearance as before the outbreak of Covid-19](https://english.haiquanonline.com.vn/stores/news_dataimages/hoangloan/022023/27/21/0253_2305_E47590F8-0C3A-488C-9C23-C14F628453AB.jpg?rt=20230227210254?230301053955)
China recovers border clearance as before the outbreak of Covid-19
17:39 | 01/03/2023 Customs
Latest News
![Eco-industrial parks vital to achieving net zero emission target by 2050](https://english.haiquanonline.com.vn/stores/news_dataimages/2024/092024/07/18/croped/namcaukieu-974420240907182735.9617940.jpg?240907062824)
Eco-industrial parks vital to achieving net zero emission target by 2050
18:28 | 07/09/2024 Headlines
![PM urges pushing up growth in 2024, 2025 with priority solutions](https://english.haiquanonline.com.vn/stores/news_dataimages/2024/092024/07/18/croped/pm-262220240907182600.3753200.jpg?240907062630)
PM urges pushing up growth in 2024, 2025 with priority solutions
18:26 | 07/09/2024 Headlines
![Vietnam attracts foreign investors thanks to its stability: Russian official](https://english.haiquanonline.com.vn/stores/news_dataimages/2024/092024/06/14/croped/hinh-anh-79420240906141711.7865050.jpg?240906021755)
Vietnam attracts foreign investors thanks to its stability: Russian official
14:17 | 06/09/2024 Headlines
![August CPI stays stable compared to previous month](https://english.haiquanonline.com.vn/stores/news_dataimages/2024/092024/06/14/croped/august-cpi-stays-stable-compared-to-previous-month-59620240906141438.6085100.jpg?240906021508)
August CPI stays stable compared to previous month
14:15 | 06/09/2024 Headlines
More News
![Co-branded cards open doors for Vietnamese business to enter global market](https://english.haiquanonline.com.vn/stores/news_dataimages/2024/092024/05/16/croped/370771-visadth-605720240905161100.0212200.jpg?240905041123)
Co-branded cards open doors for Vietnamese business to enter global market
16:11 | 05/09/2024 Headlines
![For sustainable development of cross-border e-commerce](https://english.haiquanonline.com.vn/stores/news_dataimages/2024/082024/30/16/16-thay2024082311242720240830160423.jpg?rt=20240830160426?240904024344)
For sustainable development of cross-border e-commerce
14:43 | 04/09/2024 Headlines
![Tourism sector serves about 3 million visitors during National Day holidays](https://english.haiquanonline.com.vn/stores/news_dataimages/2024/092024/04/14/croped/vna-potal-ca-nuoc-don-3-trieu-luot-khach-dip-nghi-le-quoc-khanh-29-7571465-662320240904142228.0840630.jpg?240904022317)
Tourism sector serves about 3 million visitors during National Day holidays
14:23 | 04/09/2024 Headlines
![What to do to mobilize investment resources for green transport?](https://english.haiquanonline.com.vn/stores/news_dataimages/2024/082024/30/14/croped/1307-259431148-941994990050898-3054124825542113726-n20240830144546.jpg?240904083134)
What to do to mobilize investment resources for green transport?
08:31 | 04/09/2024 Headlines
![Economic growth models innovation an essential step for sustainable development: Experts](https://english.haiquanonline.com.vn/stores/news_dataimages/2024/092024/03/19/croped/370945-4940438393653901-article-962520240903194304.0368050.jpg?240903074325)
Economic growth models innovation an essential step for sustainable development: Experts
19:43 | 03/09/2024 Headlines
![Russian newspaper highlights value of Vietnam "bamboo diplomacy" policy](https://english.haiquanonline.com.vn/stores/news_dataimages/2024/092024/03/19/croped/17250702784168-194420240903194117.6781020.jpg?240903074140)
Russian newspaper highlights value of Vietnam "bamboo diplomacy" policy
19:41 | 03/09/2024 Headlines
![Becoming a green hydrogen exporter: Vietnam can elevate its economic position](https://english.haiquanonline.com.vn/stores/news_dataimages/2024/082024/29/15/croped/5-dr-majo-george-900x59920240822130226202408261338502024082620192620240829155044.jpg?240903093111)
Becoming a green hydrogen exporter: Vietnam can elevate its economic position
09:31 | 03/09/2024 Headlines
![Ho Chi Minh City stimulates consumption](https://english.haiquanonline.com.vn/stores/news_dataimages/2024/082024/29/10/croped/19-12024081520103120240829104057.jpg?240903092834)
Ho Chi Minh City stimulates consumption
09:28 | 03/09/2024 Headlines
![Vietnamese firms urged to quickly adapt to EU Deforestation Regulation](https://english.haiquanonline.com.vn/stores/news_dataimages/2024/092024/02/19/croped/dong-phu-rubber-plantation-929720240902190427.8805960.jpg?240902070456)
Vietnamese firms urged to quickly adapt to EU Deforestation Regulation
19:04 | 02/09/2024 Headlines
Your care
![Eco-industrial parks vital to achieving net zero emission target by 2050](https://english.haiquanonline.com.vn/stores/news_dataimages/2024/092024/07/18/croped/medium/namcaukieu-974420240907182735.9617940.jpg?240907062824)
Eco-industrial parks vital to achieving net zero emission target by 2050
18:28 | 07/09/2024 Headlines
![PM urges pushing up growth in 2024, 2025 with priority solutions](https://english.haiquanonline.com.vn/stores/news_dataimages/2024/092024/07/18/croped/medium/pm-262220240907182600.3753200.jpg?240907062630)
PM urges pushing up growth in 2024, 2025 with priority solutions
18:26 | 07/09/2024 Headlines
![Vietnam attracts foreign investors thanks to its stability: Russian official](https://english.haiquanonline.com.vn/stores/news_dataimages/2024/092024/06/14/croped/medium/hinh-anh-79420240906141711.7865050.jpg?240906021755)
Vietnam attracts foreign investors thanks to its stability: Russian official
14:17 | 06/09/2024 Headlines
![August CPI stays stable compared to previous month](https://english.haiquanonline.com.vn/stores/news_dataimages/2024/092024/06/14/croped/medium/august-cpi-stays-stable-compared-to-previous-month-59620240906141438.6085100.jpg?240906021508)
August CPI stays stable compared to previous month
14:15 | 06/09/2024 Headlines
![Co-branded cards open doors for Vietnamese business to enter global market](https://english.haiquanonline.com.vn/stores/news_dataimages/2024/092024/05/16/croped/medium/370771-visadth-605720240905161100.0212200.jpg?240905041123)
Co-branded cards open doors for Vietnamese business to enter global market
16:11 | 05/09/2024 Headlines