New generation vaccine to prevent dangerous meningococcal disease is now available in Vietnam

VNVC Vaccination System announced the launch and implementation of the new generation of meningococcal vaccine at nearly 230 centers nationally on the morning of July 4 - Photo: Moc Thao

Preventing disease-causing bacteria

Vaccines help prevent bacteria that cause many dangerous diseases such as meningitis and sepsis, especially those that can cause fulminant infections that can kill children and adults within hours.

Unlike the previous meningococcal vaccine which limited the age of vaccination to 55 years old, the MenACYW vaccine is indicated for children from 12 months old and adults without age limit, and is expected to be expanded to children from 6 weeks old in the near future.

Thus, adults aged 56 and over have been vaccinated against meningococcal disease, helping to protect against this dangerous disease with the highest mortality rate in children, adolescents and the elderly.

MenACYW vaccine applies breakthrough technology, using conjugated protein from tetanus toxoid (TT) with modern molecular structure, helping to stimulate strong and sustainable immune response, while reducing the rate of healthy people carrying the virus, contributing to breaking the transmission chain in the community.

The vaccine helps prevent the four most common pathogenic serotypes A, C, Y, and W-135, which cause dangerous diseases such as meningitis and sepsis, causing more than 135,000 deaths each year worldwide.

People with meningococcal disease can die within hours.

In Vietnam, in the first 6 months of 2025 alone, the country recorded dozens of cases, including 2 deaths due to meningococcus. In June 2025, the Pasteur Institute of Ho Chi Minh City warned of the risk of a meningococcal outbreak in the southern region.

Meningococcal bacteria usually reside in the throat area and are transmitted through the respiratory tract. In the community, 5-25% of people carrying the bacteria have no symptoms but still spread the pathogen, making it a difficult source of infection to control.

Dr. Bach Thi Chinh, medical director of the VNVC Vaccination System, commented: "The research and development of new generation meningococcal vaccines by vaccine manufacturers such as Sanofi with brisk technology to expand the spectrum of protection, increase effectiveness, make them safer and suitable for all ages is a great achievement of medical technology, contributing to effectively protect public health."

Speaking at the launch ceremony, Dr. Kuharaj Mahenthiran, medical director of Sanofi Vaccines Vietnam, said meningococcal disease is a haunting disease that can cause healthy people to fall into critical conditions within hours. Even with timely treatment, 10-15% of patients can still die.

"The new generation meningococcal vaccine MenACYW has been approved in more than 70 countries and has been deployed in nearly 40 countries since 2021. With a broad age indication and a solid research foundation, this vaccine will play a key role, a major step forward in protecting Vietnamese people from meningococcal disease," Mr. Kuharaj Mahenthiran emphasized.

According to Dr. Mainly, meningococcal vaccines do not have cross-immunity, so people should receive a combination of vaccines to fully prevent all 5 meningococcal serotypes that cause the disease.

Depending on vaccination history, epidemiological situation, age and needs..., the doctor will prescribe the appropriate vaccine and vaccination schedule to achieve optimal protection.

"Continuously updating the world's leading high-quality, safe and effective new generation vaccines affirms VNVC's commitment to bring Vietnamese people access to advanced medical solutions on par with international standards.

This is a practical action towards WHO's goal by 2030 to reduce 70% of deaths and 50% of cases of bacterial meningitis," Dr. Chinh emphasized.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/vac-vac-the-he-moi-phong-benh-nao-mo-cau-nguy-hiem-da-co-tai-viet-nam-2025070414485621.htm