Hanoi (VNA) – About 200 people haveregistered to participate in the clinical trials of COVID-19 vaccine Nanocovax,a health official said on December 16.

Developed by the Nanogen PharmaceuticalBiotechnology JSC and the Vietnam Military Medical University, Nanocovax isVietnam's first COVID-19 candidate vaccine to reach the human trial stage.

According to Nguyen Ngo Quang, Deputy Director ofthe Health Ministry’s Department of Science, Technology and Training, 60 peopleaged between 18 and 50 will be selected among the volunteers for the firstphase of the trials.
 
The test will last for 56 days from the day given ofthe first injection. The participants will be under medical monitoring for sixmonths.

The Nanogen Pharmaceutical Biotechnology JSC hasspent 20 billion VND (865,946 USD) buying a health insurance package for thevolunteers.

If the trials show good results, the drug-makerplans to administer Nanocovax to the public in May 2021.

Apart from Nanocovax, Vietnam has several otherCOVID-19 candidate vaccines being developed by Vabiotech, Polyvac, and theInstitute of Vaccines and Medical Biologicals.

Vietnam reported no new COVID-19 infections on December16, with the tally standing at 1,405, according to the National SteeringCommittee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control.

Of the total, 693 cases were transmitteddomestically. December 16 marked the 15th consecutive day withoutcommunity-transmitted infections in the country.

As of December 16 afternoon, 1,252 patients had beengiven the all-clear. The fatalities remain at 35.

Among patients still under treatment, three havetested negative for SARS-CoV-2 once, six twice and six thrice.

A total of 18,378 people who had close contact withCOVID-19 patients or arrived from pandemic-hit areas are being quarantinednationwide, with 207 at hospitals, 15,567 at concentration facilities and 2,804at home or their accommodations./.