A trial production of 200,000 doses of vaccine against the H5N1 flu virus conducted by the Central Veterinary Medicine Company has shown positive results, opening up the possibility of a massive immunisation of newly-hatched poultry in the coming time, said a veterinary official on May 9.
Early vaccination on one-day-old fowl will activate their immune antibodies to counter the deadly virus from the very first days that they join their flocks, said Director Truong Van Dung of the Veterinary Institute at a meeting of the National Steering Committee for Avian Influenza Prevention and Control in Ha Noi.
According to the Veterinary Department, the first phase of the country's 2006 poultry vaccination plan has fared well, with some 70 million poultry in 57 out of 63 cities and provinces across the country being vaccinated so far.
However, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development demanded that local authorities and relevant agencies take stricter control over poultry slaughter, transport and trade activities and keep a close watch on compliance with a temporary suspension of waterfowl hatching by farmers.
Poultry vaccines against H5N1virus likely to come soon
