Trials of a new low-cost cholera vaccine have produced “encouraging results”, especially for children, according to a report in the World Health Organisation’s latest Bulletin.

The vaccine — which is manufactured in Vietnam at a cost of just 20 US cents per dose — underwent clinical trials in Hanoi. The vaccine elicited immune responses similar to a Swedish alternative and was found to be more effective in children than adults.

“The safety and immunogenicity of the vaccine, especially its ability to elicit robust responses, are encouraging, particularly because of its low cost of production in Vietnam”, say the team of scientists from Vietnam, Sweden, the United States and South Korea.

They add that further studies are needed to evaluate the levels of clinical protection offered by the vaccine.

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