New generation vaccines

While global supply chains continue to adjust to current restrictions, what can be done to mobilise high-quality investment? Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Tran Duy Dong Trade conflicts among major economies worldwide and the severe consequences of the pandemic since last year have been accelerating the relocation of big corporations to avoid high tariffs and reduce risks. Of these, numerous countries have also promulgated attractive policies for foreign direct investment (FDI), while Vietnam has got its own advantages to welcome investment, as well as carried out some outstanding solutions and innovative measures to meet the demand of potential investors. Vietnam has been ready to welcome new investors based on huge clean land areas, power sources for production, high-quality human resources, supporting industries, and simplified administrative procedures. For large-scale projects which apply high technologies, generate a lot of added value, and maintain close links with local enterprises, special incentives have already been built, and the Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI) in collaboration with other ministries has drafted and submitted to the government. Despite the pandemic, some online meetings, dialogues, and investment promotion conferences between Vietnamese authorities and overseas investors have been organised to update new policies, incentives, and feedback for their concerns, including some of largest technology corporations in the world. Besides this, the MPI proactively works with diplomatic agencies, business associations, consultancies, banks, and investment funds to approach more investors that are already interested in this destination. Meanwhile, a task force responsible for FDI attraction led by Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh and supported by MPI Minister Nguyen Chi Dung has been established to call for as many foreign-invested projects as possible. The MPI has also created more favourable …

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Illustrative image (Photo: https://asia.nikkei.com/ ) Bangkok (VNA) – The Thai cabinet on March 2 approved a budget worth 6.3 billion baht (210 million USD) for purchasing an additional 35 million doses of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine produced by the UK, bringing its total vaccine ordered to 63 million doses. According to a spokesperson of the Thai government, the new batch of vaccine will arrive in Thailand simultaneously with 26 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccine and 2 million doses of Sinovac vaccine of China ordered previously. Thailand's Ministry of Health is still negotiating to buy more vaccines from other manufacturers as the government prepares to open registration for vaccinations for people. The country officially started its COVID-19 vaccination programme on February 28. Thailand reported 42 new COVID-19 cases and one more death on March 2, lifting the total of infections and fatalities to 26,073 and 84, respectively. Thai Minister of Tourism Pipat Ratchakitprakarn has asked the Ministry of Health to approve the implementation of a vaccine passport system to kick-start the country's tourism industry this year. Pipat said on March 1 that the Thai government is waiting for the World Health Organization (WHO) to announce the vaccine passport before enacting this measure. On March 2, Malaysia granted conditional approval for the use of COVID-19 vaccines made by UK firm AstraZeneca and China’s Sinovac, just days after the Southeast Asian nation launched its nationwide COVID-19 vaccination programme. Malaysia began its COVID-19 vaccination rollout on February 24 using the vaccine developed by US drug-maker Pfizer and German partner BioNTech, as it has tried to rein in a spike in infections and help revive its economy that recorded its worst slump in more than two decades last year. Malaysia aims to vaccinate at least 80 percent of its population of about 32 million by February next year. Last month, the government said …

[Read more...] about Thailand orders additional 35 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccine

Dr. Duong Huu Thai, director of the Institute of Vaccines and Medical Biologicals (IVAC), will be part of a research team receiving training on the testing process and the recruitment of volunteers who will participate in the first phase of human trials for Covivac, the nation’s second potential COVID-19 vaccine. Ahead of the trials, Hanoi Medical University has prepared all necessary facilities for vaccine injections, volunteer monitoring, and emergency aid. The representative from the Hanoi Medical University stated that the clinical trial area will be located on the third floor of the university’s dormitory, while all accommodation, medicines, and equipment for human trials has been prepared in line with standards set out by the Ministry of Health. According to the schedule, volunteers will remain at the clinical trial area for a period of 24 hours after receiving their shots and will be subject to strict health observations by the research team. Covivac is a homegrown vaccine that has been researched and developed by IVAC. Indeed, it will be the nation’s second COVID-19 vaccine to be clinically tested on humans. The first shot of Covivac vaccine in the first phase of clinical trials will be given to volunteers by mid-March. According to the initial assessment, Covivac is effective against the new SARS-CoV-2 strain detected in the UK and South Africa. Moving forward, IVAC plans to offer the Covivac vaccine at a price of VND60,000 per dose. Meanwhile, as the first domestically-produced COVID-19 vaccine, Nanocovax, developed by Nanogen Pharmaceutical Biotechnology JSC, has now moved onto its second phase of human trials. At present, another local vaccine researcher named the Vaccine and Biological Production Company (Vabiotech) is in the process of preparing to submit documents to participate in clinical trials. …

[Read more...] about Preparations underway for first phase of clinical trials for Covivac vaccine