Vietnam rolls out first hand, foot, and mouth disease vaccine

The VNVC vaccination system, in collaboration with Swiss pharmaceutical company Substipharm Biologics, has officially launched the rollout of the Envacgen vaccine against hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) in Vietnam. This marks the first time the vaccine is available in Vietnam and Southeast Asia.

Indicated for children aged two months to under six years, the vaccine targets the enterovirus 71 (EV71) strain, which is responsible for the majority of severe complications and deaths associated with HFMD. Clinical Phase III trials conducted in Vietnam demonstrated a 96.8% efficacy rate against EV71, with no recorded cases of the virus among vaccinated participants. The vaccination schedule requires two to three doses depending on the child's age at the start of the regimen.

The rollout began on September 25 across nearly 300 VNVC centers nationwide. On the first day, tens of thousands of registrations were recorded, with approximately 70% of those being for children under three years old. Medical experts note that the vaccine provides a critical proactive defense against a disease that can cause neurological, cardiovascular, and respiratory complications, often progressing from mild to critical within six to eight hours.