Thailand moves to set up national vaccine institute

Thailand is pressing ahead with a long-term plan to set up a national vaccine institute aimed at producing 10 vaccine regimens. The goal is to strengthen the country’s preparedness against deadly diseases and reduce the high cost of imported vaccines. The policy calls for the establishment of a national vaccine development committee, made up of medical experts from several bodies, to be the focal point for vaccine research and development. “The panel has been assigned to draft two-year and five-year plans to develop 10 vaccines for dengue, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, mumps, measles, encephalitis, polio, hepatitis B and tuberculosis”, Public Health Minister Jurin Laksanavisit said on Wednesday. “A draft vaccine development plan has been completed and will be proposed to the cabinet. It is possible joint public-private partnership programmes will be formed for some vaccines”, he said. “It is time for the country to be self-reliant and set up its own vaccine research and development...