PRESS RELEASE

U.S. Officials Participate in Conference on Avian Influenza Vaccine

Hanoi, Monday, June 8 -- Officials from the U.S. Embassy participated in an important conference today hosted by the Ministry of Health to review progress and next steps in efforts to develop a human vaccine against H5N1 avian influenza. The conference was led by Vice Minister Nguyen Thi Kim Tien with the participation of experts from around the world, including representatives from pharmaceutical companies and donor countries. 

The U.S. Government is the largest bilateral supporter of funding and technical assistance for influenza in Vietnam. This cooperative approach between the two government partners is helping Vietnam become a bigger internationally recognized producer of vaccines. With Japan, the U.S. provides about $5.5 million in funding and technical support to complement Vietnam’s own efforts in these areas. Vietnam is now positioned to conduct further clinical trials of these influenza vaccines in accordance with international standards. Vietnam is also well on its way to developing the capacity and knowledge to pursue the manufacture of other flu vaccines including those for the new A/H1N1 and seasonal influenza.

Vietnam regularly shares samples of human influenza with the World Health Organization’s Global Collaborating Network, thus strengthening international collaboration. This allows new strains for vaccine manufacturers to be returned to Vietnam for production according to good manufacturing practices.