Development of pandemic influenza vaccine production capacity in Viet Nam

• Published in: Vaccine Vol. 29; no. S1; pp. A34 - A36
• Main Authors: Hoa, L.K, Hiep, L.V, Be, L.V
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier Ltd 01.07.2011; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Allergy and Immunology; avian influenza; Biosafety; chickens; clinical trials; Clinical Trials as Topic; Developing countries; eggs; farms; Good Manufacturing Practice; good manufacturing practices; grants; H1N1; H5N1; Health Policy; Humans; Immunization; Influenza; Influenza Vaccines - administration & dosage; Influenza Vaccines - immunology; Influenza Vaccines - supply & distribution; Influenza virus; Influenza, Human - epidemiology; Influenza, Human - prevention & control; Instrumentation; LDCs; manufacturing; Manufacturing industry; Orthomyxoviridae; Pandemic; Pandemics; Pandemics - prevention & control; Poultry farm; Poultry farming; public ownership; Technology; Technology Transfer; Technology, Pharmaceutical - methods; Technology, Pharmaceutical - organization & administration; Vaccine; Vaccines; Vaccines, Inactivated - administration & dosage; Vaccines, Inactivated - immunology; Vaccines, Inactivated - supply & distribution; Vietnam - epidemiology; Waste treatment; World Health Organization; Vietnam; H5N1; Technology; Influenza; Pandemic; Poultry farm; Vaccine; H1N1
• ISSN: 0264-410X; 1873-2518
• DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2011.04.118

The Institute of Vaccines and Medical Biologicals (IVAC), a state-owned vaccine manufacturer, initiated research into avian influenza vaccines in the early 1990s in response to the threat of a highly pathogenic avian influenza pandemic. Successful results from laboratory studies on A(H5N1) influenza virus attracted seed funds and led to participation in the WHO technology transfer project to enhance influenza vaccine production in developing countries. IVAC's goal is to produce 500,000 doses of inactivated monovalent whole-virion influenza vaccine per year by 2012, and progressively increase capacity to more than 1 million doses to protect essential populations in Viet Nam in the event of an influenza pandemic. The WHO seed grants, supplemented by other international partner support, enabled IVAC to build in a very short time an influenza vaccine manufacturing plant under Good Manufacturing Practice and relevant biosafety standards, a waste treatment system and a dedicated chicken farm for high-quality eggs. Much of the equipment and instrumentation required for vaccine production has been installed and tested for functional operation. Staff have been trained on site and at specialized courses which provided comprehensive manuals on egg-based manufacturing processes and biosafety. Following process validation, clinical trials will start in 2011 and the first domestic influenza vaccine doses are expected in 2012.