To this end, the made-in-Vietnam products must fully "leverage the country’s manpower and natural resources advantages", Long stated as he was addressing a scientific workshop entitled ’Prospects for research and development of vaccines for human diseases in Vietnam, jointly held by the Ministry of Health, and the Ministry of Science and Technology in Hanoi this week.
The Prime Minister-approved National Vaccine Product Development Program towards 2020 has approved of 11 tasks, which focus on research, production and development of vaccines for human diseases.
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Scientists conduct researches on vaccine in an institute in HCM City. Source: vietnamnews.vn |
Over the last few years, vaccines have proved their undeniable effectiveness in preventing many diseases, Long said.
Currently, Vietnam produces 10 types of vaccines for human diseases, of which eight vaccines were used in the National Expanded Vaccination Program.
Long stressed that Vietnam is actively working on the development of many more different vaccines against human diseases.
The workshop aimed to review and re-evaluate the process of implementing the framework project of the National Vaccine Product Development Program, according to Long. At the same time, it would map out solutions and directions for the country, towards the goal of the country stocking enough vaccine supply and ensuring the quality of domestically-manufactured vaccines.
Nguyen Ngo Quang, Deputy Director of the Health Ministry’s Department of Science, Technology and Training, said that the ministry approved the National Vaccine Product Development Project in 2013, including 12 science and technology projects and seven investment projects.
During the 2017- 2018 period, the health ministry has added three more science and technology projects. Among 15 approved science and technology projects, nine have been implemented. Many projects have yielded initial results, including work on Japanese Encaphilitis, polio, Hib and influenza vaccines.
Quang said, in the past years, despite many difficulties related to mechanisms, policies and techniques in the field of studying and producing vaccines, the program’s projects have achieved satisfactory results.
In particular, a project involving the large-scale production of seasonal flu vaccines, hosted by the National Institute of Vaccines and Biologicals, has been verified and delivered excellent result.
Quang proposed that in the future, units under the Ministries of Health, and Science and Technology need to enhance supervision and implement tasks, handling new problems as they arise.
Particularly, the two ministries should work together to propose the Government extend the national program’s implementation until 2030.
Source: VNA