Thai Researchers Successfully Develop Zika Virus Vaccine

“Zika Fever” (Zika Fever) is one of the mosquito-borne diseases that made everyone forget about the first outbreak of Asian strains of Zika fever in Thailand in 2016, although it is an infectious disease for which there is no drug to prevent it. But with the determination to see Thai people produce vaccines for their own use, only 6 years later, the Zika vaccine was invented and developed. Thai craftsmanship succeeded for the first time by Mahidol University Which has always relied on the medical and health of the Thai people.

Prof. Dr. Naratthapol Charoenphan, Director of the Institute of Molecular Biosciences Mahidol University said patients were infected by Aedes mosquitoes that contained the virus. “Zika Fever” may have a high fever Conjunctivitis, rash on the body, fatigue. If a pregnant woman may result in giving birth to abnormalities such as small head, cerebral palsy or incomplete development.

current “Zika Fever” found in the world besides Asian species Which is often found in countries in Latin America. and countries in Southeast Asia. “Zika Fever” African species that are often found in countries in Africa With over 4 decades of expertise in vaccine invention and development, Mahidol University by the Vaccine Research and Development Center Institute of Molecular Biosciences Has extended the results until able to invent and developZika virus vaccine that can protect both Asian species and African species The world’s first successful in vitro

In the future, in terms of policy, it may be pushed to be a basic vaccine for people to inject protection from before pregnancy. as well as injecting in girls aged 10-12 years, which may be divided into 2 injections, the first injection to build up immunity and the second injection to boost it four weeks later.

It will be a worthwhile investment in health. due to the efficiency ofZika virus vaccineAsian species at Mahidol University by the Vaccine Research and Development Center Institute of Molecular Biosciences invented and developed this If the first injection at a young age may have resistance to disease for many decades, which the virus “Zika Fever” In addition to contact from mother to child. can also be transmitted sexually A Zika vaccine is therefore essential for all men and women.

Dr. Narong Nithatpattana Medical Technologist (Expert) Vaccine Research and Development Center Institute of Molecular Biosciences Mahidol University who is the leader of the research and development team preventive vaccine “Zika Fever” The Asian strain added to be confident about the vaccine invented and developed. It has been tested in laboratory animals and found to be very safe.

Because it is a killed vaccine produced under the principles of the World Health Organization. by introducing the virus to cause death and then through the process of making it safe from unwanted impurities before injecting into experimental animals

In the future, there may be many new emerging diseases. Developing a vaccine with the same technology that can be used to prevent multiple diseases in a single dose may therefore be a good and effective alternative. in which the Zika fever Caused by a virus in the Flavivirus family (Flavivirus).

Therefore, in the future, it may be developed to be able to use many types of viruses in the same needle. That is, in conjunction with protection against diseases caused by viruses of the same family, such as Japanese encephalitis (JE) and West Nile virus (WNV).

The production of vaccines in factories that meet GMP standards (Good Manufacturing Practices) until it can be widely used. may have to invest in the initial budget of hundreds of millions of baht First of all, it must be produced in a semi-industrial factory. Then tested phase 1 safety in small groups before expanding to phase 2 in medium groups.

when the vaccine was found to be safe It will enter the industrial production process that meets GMP standards, which is expected to take no less than 4 years, and then enters the third phase of testing in large target groups. If it is found that the vaccine can prevent Zika virus well It’s time to introduce the vaccine to the general public.