All of them are residing in the northern province of Thai Binh, the only locality selected for the second phase trials.

In the second phase, a total of 375 volunteers, aged over 18, have been chosen and classified into three groups for the 3mcg and 6 mcg dosages and a dose of AstraZeneca vaccine.

As scheduled, the first shots will be finalized on August 23. Volunteers will get their second doses after 28 days.   

Blood samples will be collected in three phases including before vaccination, and after 14 days and six months of injection.

According to IVAC Director Duong Huu Thai, AstraZeneca vaccine is being used in place of a placebo, which would compare the immunogenicity of the two vaccines. Blood samples collected from the second phase will be sent to Canada for an independent evaluation.

Covivac has been developed and produced by the Institute of Vaccines and Medical Biologicals (IVAC). It is the second homegrown vaccine approved by the Ministry of Health for clinical trials, after Nanocovax.

Ealier, the vaccine was given to 100 volunteers at Ha Noi Medical University during the first phase of human trials./.