VietNamNet Bridge - The current H5N1 vaccine has been good in preventing avian influenza virus, including the newly-found clade (clade 7) of H5N1, according to the Veterinary Department of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

During a seminar on bird flu for the media held in Hanoi this week, Veterinary Department Director Hoang Van Nam announced that the ministry has asked the Government to allow the import of additional 500 million doses of H5N1 vaccine this year.

Nam reaffirmed fact vaccination is still effective measure in preventing the epidemic.

Meanwhile, efforts to speed up the production of H5N1 vaccine for poultry is going on after it was successfully made at laboratory, he added.

The test of locally-made influenza A/H5N1 vaccine on humans has proved successful. The Military Medical Institute 103 in August reported that the first phase of the test of H5N1 influenza vaccine on humans was completed.

Three months after receiving the second shot of the Fluvax vaccine, made by the Vaccine and Bio-technology Products Company No. 1 (VABIOTECH), 30 volunteers showed no serious side effects, the Institute reported.

Fluvax vaccine, made of monkey kidney cells, is expected to be put into mass production in late 2009 at a cost of around 30,000 VND per dose.

The Nha Trang Institute of Vaccines and Medical Biologicals (IVAC) also developed vaccine for the same purpose and is waiting for Ministry of Health’s permission to test it on humans.

The locally-made vaccine may not be cheaper than the imports, Nam said, but if successful, the country would be active in the supply of vaccine for epidemic control.

According to the Veterinary Department, by September 4, only southern Ben Tre province was still affected by bird flu. After 21days with no new bird flu cases reported, a locality will be reported free from the disease. However, Vietnam has been considered as a country with high-risk of bird flu outbreak.

(Source: VNA)