Thailand plans to produce vaccines for seven diseases in 2-10 years

BANGKOK, Dec 17 (TNA) - Thailand’s Public Health Ministry and Mahidol University plan to jointly produce a vaccine for dengue hemorrhagic fever and open the National Vaccine Institute to produce vaccines for seven diseases in 2-10 years.
Thai Public Health Minister Jurin Laksanavisit and Clinical Professor Dr Piyasakol Sakolsatayatorn, rector of Mahidol University, on Friday signed an agreement for the joint effort to produce a vaccine for dengue hemorrhagic fever and open the National Vaccine Institute at the Department of Disease Control. The institute will be a main organisation to produce and research vaccines for local use and take relevant actions.
Thailand had potential for vaccine production but it did not develop the potential. As a result, the country can now produce vaccines for only encephalitis and tuberculosis in children, Jurin said.
The agreement on the vaccine collaboration and the opening of the National Vaccine Institute will increase the vaccine production potential of Thailand.
The country plans to produce vaccines against seven diseases. Vaccines for diphtheria, whooping cough, and tetanus will be produced for local use within two years. A vaccine for hepatitis B will be produced locally in four years. The productivity of a tuberculosis vaccine will be enhanced in five years. An encephalitis vaccine will be produced locally in five years and a dengue hemorrhagic fever vaccine will be locally made and ready for use in 10 years.
According to the public health minister, Thailand will test its dengue hemorrhagic fever vaccine on humans within two years. Many areas have been designated for the test. The one-shot vaccine will cover four strains of the hemorrhagic fever.(TNA)