Health Institute to Begin Human H5N1 Vaccine Trials
VIETNAM - A Vietnamese health institute has, according to this story, asked for permission from the Health Ministry to test its bird flu vaccine among humans, after it worked successfully on animals.The Nha Trang Institute of Vaccines and Medical Biological (IVAC) in central Khanh Hoa province was cited as saying on Friday the first 5,000 doses of its vaccine were tested successfully on rats and chickens.
Last year, the World Health Organization (WHO) funded the institute to the tune of 2.7 million U.S. dollars, helping it build a vaccine factory with annual capacity of 500,000-1,000,000 doses.
The factory, still under construction, is expected to become operational next year.