September 14, 2006

Vietnam to use locally-made bird flu vaccines in 2007

Vietnam is expected to use domestically-made vaccines against bird flu viruses among fowls early next year, after successfully testing them on chickens and white-winged ducks, Wednesday (Sep 13).

The Central Veterinary Institute is now determining suitable volume of each dose of the vaccines, local newspaper Labor reported

Vietnam plans to build 64 freezing facilities nationwide to preserve the vaccines.

Vietnam has completed this year's first batch of bird flu vaccination among fowls nationwide, and plans to finish the second batch by late November.

As of late last month, the country had vaccinated some 134 million poultry. Tests indicated that 60 percent of the fowls in the northern region, over 85 percent in the central region, and more than 75 percent in the southern region have developed some form of immunity, according to the Department of Animal Health.

The last reported outbreak of bird flu among poultry in Vietnam was in December 2005.