Vietnam introduces first new-generation vaccine from the U.S. protecting against 4 diseases: Measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella

Ho Chi Minh City, September 18, 2025 – The VNVC Vaccination Center System officially launched and began administering a new-generation 4-in-1 (MMRV) vaccine that protects measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella.

Manufactured by MSD (USA), one of the world's leading pharmaceutical and biological companies, the vaccine utilizes advanced technology to combine multiple antigens in a single injection while incorporating a special adjuvant to enhance immune response for optimal effectiveness. To date, the MMRV vaccine has been widely used in nearly 60 countries, with over 66 million doses administered safely and effectively.

Clinical trials have shown that the MMRV vaccine is up to 99% effective after two doses, delivering protection comparable to that of individual measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella vaccines — while reducing the number of injections, saving time, and enabling earlier, broader protection for children and enhancing protection for adults.

Studies from the U.S. immunization program indicate that the MMRV vaccine has helped prevent over 91 million varicella cases, 238,000 hospitalizations, nearly 2,000 deaths, and 1.1 million inpatient days.

In Vietnam, where infectious diseases such as measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella cause tens of thousands of infection cases and deaths annually, it is vital to ensure access to high-quality, safe vaccines for both children and adults. The new-generation vaccines, utilizing advanced technology, not only enhance protection and safety but also integrate protection against four dangerous diseases into a single shot, helping reduce visits and improve adherence to vaccination schedules while optimizing costs.

The introduction of the U.S.-manufactured MMRV vaccine by VNVC marks a significant step forward, offering broader protection for both children and adults.

The vaccine is indicated for children from 12 months of age (and can be administered as early as 9 months in the case of an outbreak) and for adults. Women should complete their vaccination schedule at least one month before pregnancy. Doctors will determine the appropriate vaccination plan based on the patient's health status, age, vaccination history, co-administration needs, and past medical history.

Compared with previous 3-in-1 vaccines that only provide protection against measles, mumps, and rubella, the MMRV vaccine adds varicella, increasing protection from three to four diseases in a single shot, thereby reducing the number of injections, saving time and costs, and improving compliance.

According to Dr. Bach Thi Chinh, Medical Director of the VNVC Vaccination Center System, MMRV is a combination vaccine developed on a high-tech platform, enhanced with adjuvants and stabilizers to maintain antigen stability while ensuring safety and strong immunogenicity.

The MMRV vaccine contains live attenuated viruses that comprehensively train the immune system. Not only does it stimulate the production of specific antibodies to eliminate the viruses, MMRV also generates memory cells that help sustain long-lasting, robust immunity, potentially lifelong. Notably, in pregnant women, antibodies generated before pregnancy can be transferred via the placenta, helping protect infants from birth.

Clinical trials show that the MMRV vaccine achieves disease-prevention efficacy of up to 99% after two doses, equivalent to administering the individual measles–mumps–rubella and varicella vaccines.

“The research and development of combination vaccines that protect against multiple diseases in a single injection reflects the direction of modern medicine, aimed at optimizing vaccination schedules, reducing injection frequency, and providing more comprehensive protection for children and adults. This is a new advance in preventive medicine, contributing to higher vaccine coverage and the establishment of robust community immunity,” said Dr. Chinh.

Measles, mumps, rubella, and chickenpox are infectious diseases that spread rapidly through the respiratory tract, can cause outbreaks, and may result in severe complications.

Studies show one measles case can infect up to 18 others. Among every three measles cases, at least one develops complications such as acute diarrhea, otitis media, pneumonia or corneal ulcers. In pregnant women, measles increases the risk of miscarriage, premature birth, and low birth weight. The measles virus also suppresses immunity, making children vulnerable to secondary infections such as influenza, diphtheria, chickenpox, and tuberculosis after recovery. Large measles outbreaks typically recur every 4–5 years; notably in the 2024–2025 period, Vietnam recorded hundreds of thousands of cases and dozens of deaths, including among pregnant women and adults.

About 15% of mumps cases develop meningitis complications, 13% of males develop orchitis or epididymitis, and 5% of post-pubertal females develop oophoritis, directly affecting fertility. Rarer complications include encephalitis, acute pancreatitis, thyroiditis, myocarditis, and interstitial nephritis.

Rubella infection during pregnancy, especially in the first trimester, can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, premature birth, or congenital rubella syndrome with sequelae such as low birth weight, cataracts, deafness, intellectual disability, congenital heart defects, and microcephaly. Approximately 100,000 children are born with congenital rubella worldwide each year. About 20-50% of infections are asymptomatic, complicating control efforts.

Chickenpox circulates year-round, peaking between February and June. Beyond scarring lesions, it can lead to pneumonia, encephalitis, hepatitis, nephritis, or sepsis. Infection during pregnancy increases risks of fetal deformities, stillbirth, or congenital varicella. Infection near delivery can cause neonatal varicella with up to 30% mortality. The virus may remain latent, potentially reactivating as shingles, with severe pain and complications such as meningitis, hepatitis, nerve palsies, and increased risks of stroke and heart attack.

The rollout of the MMRV vaccine at the VNVC Vaccination Center System reaffirms its pioneering role in bringing advanced global medical solutions to the Vietnamese people, demonstrating close collaboration with the healthcare sector and government in prioritizing prevention over treatment, protecting, caring, and improving population health.

Since its establishment, VNVC has introduced 20 new and next-generation vaccines to Vietnam, gradually closing prevention gaps for children and adults. In 2024 and the first nine months of 2025, along with MMRV, VNVC launched nearly 10 vaccines for serious diseases, including those for dengue, shingles, various pneumococcal vaccines covering 15, 20, and 23 serotypes that help prevent pneumonia and meningitis, and three meningococcal vaccines against meningitis and sepsis.

VNVC is a leading vaccination center system in Vietnam with nearly 240 modern, safe vaccination centers nationwide, delivering millions of high-quality vaccine doses annually, contributing to increased vaccination coverage for both children and adults. In May 2025, VNVC broke ground on the VNVC Vaccine and Biological Manufacturing Plant in Tay Ninh, designed to meet international standards, including WHO-GMP, EU-GMP, and U.S. FDA requirements. The facility has an initial investment of over VND 2,000 billion and a planned capacity of up to 100 million doses per year. VNVC has signed strategic cooperation agreements with leading global biotechnology partners to transfer technology for the production of new-generation vaccines and high-tech biologics at the facility. Once operational in late 2027, the plant is expected to help strengthen national health security and position Vietnam as an ASEAN hub for international-standard production and supply of vaccines and biologics.

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