Vietnam poised to introduce Hand, Foot, and Mouth disease vaccine

On February 18, 2025, VNVC Immunization Center System and Swiss pharmaceutical company Substipharm Biologics SA signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to collaborate on introducing new vaccines to Vietnam. Of particular importance is a vaccine against hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) caused by Enterovirus 71 (EV71). This strain is responsible for the most severe HFMD cases, leading to tens of thousands of infections, complications, and fatalities among Vietnamese children over the years.

At the signing ceremony, both parties agreed to actively collaborate for the benefit of public health. Furthermore, the collaboration aims to enhance scientific research exchange and conduct clinical studies, enhance professional development for healthcare professionals, and raise public awareness about disease prevention measures, with a focus on HFMD in children.

Mr. Ngo Chi Dung, Chairman and CEO of VNVC Immunization Center System, and Mr. Hervé Profit, Senior Director of Substipharm Biologics SA (Switzerland), signed a comprehensive Memorandum of Understanding to accelerate efforts in introducing the HFMD vaccine to Vietnam as swiftly as possible.

Substipharm Biologics is a vaccine and biologics company under the French-based Substipharm Group, which has operated globally for 30 years. It specializes in manufacturing, supplying, and distributing pharmaceuticals in over 80 countries, with a portfolio of more than 90 high-quality drugs and vaccines.

Internationally, Substipharm Biologics owns the rights to Imojev, a recombinant live-attenuated Japanese encephalitis vaccine, acquired from Sanofi (France). VNVC partnered with Sanofi to introduce this vaccine to Vietnam in 2019. Imojev is now widely distributed, helping to protect millions of children and adults, similar to its impact in other countries.

With its outstanding capability and expertise in global pharmaceuticals and vaccines, Substipharm Biologics has prioritized efforts to introduce the HFMD vaccine to Vietnam, one of the countries with a severe epidemiological burden of this disease.

The HFMD vaccine is recommended for children from 2 months to under 6 years old. Research findings published in The Lancet, one of the world's most prestigious medical journals, demonstrate that the vaccine has a favorable risk profile and provides up to 96.8% protection, offering long-lasting immunity against HFMD caused by the EV71 subgenotype, regardless of disease severity. Data also indicate that the vaccine provides cross-immunity against other HFMD-causing strains, such as B5 and C4. The vaccine is manufactured using advanced manufacturing technology.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Mr. Hervé Profit, Senior Director of Substipharm Biologics SA, stated, 'This strategic partnership with VNVC is a significant step forward, allowing Substipharm Biologics SA to introduce more high-quality vaccines and biologics to Vietnam and meet the increasing demand for safety and quality in healthcare.

“We hope to soon introduce the hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) vaccine to Vietnam to help protect children, reduce severe complications caused by the disease, and bring about positive advancements in the fight against HFMD, an illness that places a significant health burden on children every year, as well as on families and society as a whole”, shared the representative of Substipharm Biologics SA.

Mr. Ngo Chi Dung, Chairman and CEO of VNVC Immunization Center System, expressed his high regard for the collaboration with Substipharm Biologics SA. He stated that this agreement marks a key milestone in their shared commitment to swiftly bringing a new and essential vaccine to Vietnam. [CV1] This vaccine is critical for preventing a dangerous disease that has persisted for years in Vietnam and poses a high fatality risk for children.

“Hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) currently has no specific treatment, placing immense pressure on the healthcare system," Mr. Dung said. "Therefore, both sides hope to secure a stable supply of the HFMD vaccine to ensure widespread and timely immunization for children, helping to effectively prevent the disease.”

Recent large HFMD outbreaks in Vietnam have been linked to the EV71 strain. The most recent major EV71 outbreak occurred in 2023, with over 180,000 children infected, many severe cases requiring mechanical ventilation and dialysis, and 31 fatalities were reported.

Dr. Bach Thi Chinh, Medical Director of the VNVC Immunization Center System, stated that HFMD spreads easily through direct contact with nasal, throat, and oral secretions, saliva, or fluid from blisters. It can also be transmitted indirectly through exposure to infected secretions and excretions on household items, toys, furniture, floors, and other surfaces.

The initial symptoms of hand, foot, and mouth disease include fever, poor appetite, irritability, and sore throat. One to two days after fever onset, painful ulcers develop on the tongue, gums, and inner cheeks. A red, flat, or raised rash often appears, accompanied by blisters, primarily on the palms and soles, but it may also affect the buttocks and genital area. Children under 5 years old are more susceptible to the disease due to their immature immune systems. Daycare centers and preschools are high-risk environments for transmission, often serving as hotspots for outbreaks.

VNVC is Vietnam’s leading vaccination center system, operating nearly 220 centers across provinces and cities nationwide. The network provides a comprehensive range of nearly 50 vaccines, protecting against almost 50 infectious diseases for both children and adults.

VNVC has made significant investments in cold storage facilities, cold chain systems, and refrigerated vaccine transport vehicles that meet GSP (Good Storage Practice) standards in compliance with international regulations, ensuring safe vaccine storage and optimal immunization effectiveness. With a workforce of over 10,000 employees, including 100% certified physicians and nurses trained in vaccination safety, and healthcare professionals equipped with professional customer care skills, VNVC ensures strict vaccination safety protocols for both on-site and mobile vaccination programs, serving businesses and organizations as needed.

With its strong reputation and extensive experience in vaccination, VNVC has established comprehensive strategic partnerships with many of the world’s leading vaccine manufacturers, including GSK (Belgium), Pfizer (USA), MSD (USA), AstraZeneca (UK), Sanofi Pasteur (France), Abbott (Netherlands), and Takeda (Japan).

In 2024 alone, VNVC, in collaboration with leading global vaccine and pharmaceutical companies such as GSK, Pfizer, MSD, and Takeda, has introduced to Vietnam 4 important vaccines, including the next-generation meningococcal B vaccine, pneumococcal 23-valent vaccine, dengue fever vaccine, and shingles vaccine, administering them to children and adults at hundreds of VNVC centers nationwide. The continuous introduction of new and essential vaccines for the Vietnamese population demonstrates VNVC’s commitment and determination to expanding vaccine coverage, improving public health, and enhancing the quality of life for both children and adults in Vietnam, while also ensuring the highest standards of safety and service quality in vaccination programs.

VNVC is not only focused on delivering high-quality vaccination services but is also actively constructing a vaccine manufacturing plant in Long An, adhering to advanced pharmaceutical manufacturing standards, including GMP of EU, FDA, PIC/S, and WHO, With an investment of over 2,000 billion VND, aiming to ensure proactive production of biologics and vaccines for Vietnam. VNVC has also reached a cooperation agreement to advance technology transfer and local production of several vaccines with Sanofi, the world’s leading pharmaceutical company.

Substipharm is a privately-owned French healthcare group with 30 years of global operations, specializing in the development, supply, and distribution of pharmaceuticals in over 80 countries, with a portfolio of more than 90 high-quality pharmaceutical products, biologics, and vaccines.

In 2022, Substipharm acquired IMOJEV®, a Japanese encephalitis vaccine, from Sanofi (France), along with a 49% stake in the Japanese encephalitis vaccine manufacturing plant in Bangkok, Thailand, and established a subsidiary, Substipharm Biologics SA, in Geneva, Switzerland, to further expand its focus on vaccines and biologics. IMOJEV® is currently available in 14 countries across the Asia-Pacific region, Southeast Asia, and Australia, where it is recognized as the leading Japanese encephalitis vaccine. This vaccine has also been administered by VNVC in Vietnam since 2019. Substipharm Biologics and Medigen have recently announced their collaboration to commercialize Envacgen and a new HFMD vaccine.

OTHER ARTICLES