Vietnam has completed the first phase of the human trials of Nano Covax, a locally made Covid-19 vaccine, tested on 60 volunteers, the Vietnam Military Medical University said on February 8.

The last 22 volunteers received the second shots, with two receiving the 50-microgramme (mcg) dose, and 20 getting the 75mcg dose.

In all, 120 shots – two for each volunteer – were given in this phase.

Experts from the university said Nano Covax has proven safe and effective against the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus – the pathogen that causes Covid-19, even its new variant first reported by the UK health authorities, which is deemed more contagious but does not necessarily cause more severe disease in those infected.

Most of the volunteers are in stable conditions after vaccination. Only few had light injection site pain and fever that disappeared after one to two days.

After Tet (Lunar New Year) holiday ends next week, the Ministry of Health’s National Committee for Ethics in Biomedical Research will start evaluating the initial results of vaccine trial.

The objective of the first phase is to evaluate the safety of the vaccine, developed and manufactured by Ho Chi Minh City-based Nanogen Pharmaceutical Biotechnology JSC.

Nearly 400 people have registered for the second phase that is expected to last for six months, during which 560 volunteers will be injected with the vaccine.

The Vietnam Military Medical University will continue to administer the second phase trial, with the help of the Hanoi-based National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology and Ho Chi Minh City Pasteur Institute.

The third phase will see the involvement of more than 10,000 volunteers – including several countries in Asia where there is widespread community coronavirus transmission. The third phase will begin when the second phase is halfway through, which puts the possible date at around August.

If the results are good, Vietnam would administer the vaccine to the public early next year.

Nano Covax is the first Vietnam-made Covid-19 vaccine to enter human trials starting from December 17. The vaccine can be kept at normal refrigerator temperatures (2-8 degrees Celsius).

Three other vaccine candidates are also being developed.

VIET NAM NEWS/ASIA NEWS NETWORK