U.S. Helps Vietnam Produce Flu Vaccine

The Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has provided $7.9 million to help Vietnam and other developing countries produce vaccines against influenza. The donation, funded through the World Health Organization (WHO), will be granted to the Program for Appropriate Technology in Health (PATH) - an international non-profit health organization. According to the Vaccine News Daily in Chicago, U.S., PATH will collaborate with various groups in Vietnam, including the Government and vaccine manufacturers, to assist in the production and clinical development of safe and effective influenza vaccines. PATH officials hope that the project will also serve as a model to build local production programs for influenza vaccines in developing countries.