Vietnam is one of seven countries selected by the World Health Organization to participate in phase 3 clinical trials of a new tuberculosis vaccine. The clinical trial is expected to be held in Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, and the Central Lung Hospital in early 2024.
This was shared by Mr. Dinh Van Luong, Director of the Central Lung Hospital, on the sidelines of the launch of the upgraded version of the tuberculosis information monitoring and management system (VITIMES), which took place on the morning of November 30 in Hanoi .
Vietnam prepares to test new tuberculosis vaccine
According to Mr. Luong, Vietnam was selected by the World Health Organization (WHO) as one of seven countries to participate in phase 3 clinical trials of the new tuberculosis vaccine .
Clinical trials are expected to be conducted in Vietnam in early 2024. All technical procedures will be carried out under WHO supervision.
Mr. Luong clearly stated that this new tuberculosis vaccine is completely different from the tuberculosis vaccine currently used to vaccinate children.
"The current tuberculosis vaccine in Vietnam is BCG (Bacillus Calmette-Guerin), which contains inactivated tuberculosis bacteria . The new tuberculosis vaccine will use DNA technology, which is much more effective than the old vaccine technology.
In addition, the vaccine will be used for adults, not just children like the current vaccine, contributing to preventing tuberculosis transmission in the community.
The new vaccine promises to help boost TB prevention in adults and stop TB worldwide. The vaccine research is expected to take about 4-7 years," said Mr. Luong.
The Director of the Central Lung Hospital also said that with the new vaccine, when put into use, WHO estimates that in the next 25 years this vaccine will be able to prevent 8.5 million deaths from tuberculosis worldwide.
Upgrading technology to manage tuberculosis patients
According to statistics, Vietnam currently ranks 11th among 30 countries with the highest tuberculosis burden in the world. With a population of 100 million, each year nearly 200,000 new tuberculosis cases are detected, diagnosed, and treated.
Delegates attending the launch of the upgraded version of the tuberculosis information monitoring and management system (VITIMES) - Photo: DUONG LIEU
"With the goal of ending tuberculosis by 2035, health organizations and the Central Lung Hospital have upgraded the tuberculosis information surveillance and management system.
The application is expected to help monitor TB cases and latent TB, and manage the program through advanced tools to contribute to strengthening TB treatment and prevention services in Vietnam in the coming years.
With this new system, the database is connected, cases are updated in real time, helping to manage patients comprehensively, updating accurate and complete data ( drug-resistant tuberculosis , sensitive tuberculosis, latent tuberculosis).
This will help hospitals manage tuberculosis and better respond to arising problems," Mr. Luong stated.
Previously, the old system was built in 2010 with the purpose of managing sensitive tuberculosis patients, and did not integrate information on drug-resistant tuberculosis, latent tuberculosis, data connectivity, etc.
Ms. Aler Grubbs, director of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in Vietnam, said upgrading the tuberculosis surveillance and information management system is an important part of cooperation between Vietnam and the United States.
"The TB surveillance system also supports detailed data to improve disease response. When we have complete data on drug-resistant TB, sensitive TB, etc., we will have better measures to respond to emerging problems," Ms. Aler Grubbs affirmed.
According to DUONG LIEU - Tuoi Tre online (Title by Hau Giang Newspaper)
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