The initial phase of clinical trials on the second domestically-produced COVID-19 vaccine known as Covivac, developed by the Institute of Vaccines and Medical Biologicals (IVAC) was started on March 15 by the Hanoi Medical University.

Through pre-clinical assessments conducted in India, the US, and Vietnam, the locally-produced Covivac vaccine has recorded a strong immunological effect on laboratory animals and has so far proved to be safe.

According to Dr. Duong Huu Thai, director of the Institute of Vaccines and Medical Biologicals (IVAC), the research project on the vaccine has been running since May, 2020, with the co-operation of scientists from universities, research institutes, and international organisations, adding that it has been produced from embryonic egg production technology, which is safe for animals.

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The Covivac vaccine was also proved to be effective against the new SARS-CoV strain detected in both the UK and South Africa,  Dr. Thai said.

The vaccine is expected to be launched later this year after passing through three phases of human trials. Moving forward, the IVAC plans to offer the Covivac vaccine at a price of VND60,000 per dose.

Furthermore, as the first domestically-produced COVID-19 vaccine, Nanocovax, which has been developed by Nanogen Pharmaceutical Biotechnology JSC, moved onto its second phase of human trials on February 26.

According to the National Expanded Immunisation Programme by March 15, as many as 11,605 people, all of them are medical workers and members of COVID-19 prevention and control teams, had been vaccinated.

Most of the vaccinated people (7,276) are in northern Hai Duong province which has been hardest hit by the latest outbreak since January 27.

Meanwhile Quang Ninh, Dien Bien and Dong Thap provinces are set to begin their COVID-19 vaccination this week.

On March 15 morning, Vietnam recorded no new COVID-19 cases, keeping the national infection tally at 2,554, including 1,594 cases of local transmission and 960 imported ones.