Vietnam to soon have vaccine to prevent hand, foot and mouth disease

The Deputy Minister of Health said that a company producing a vaccine to prevent hand, foot and mouth disease has just submitted a registration application to the Drug Administration. The vaccine may be licensed by the end of the year.

On the morning of June 23, Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Thi Lien Huong held an urgent online meeting with 20 southern provinces and cities on the prevention of dengue fever and hand, foot and mouth disease.

At the online meeting, Dr. Nguyen Vu Thuong, deputy director of the Pasteur Institute in Ho Chi Minh City, said that in the past week, 20 southern provinces and cities recorded 2,000 cases of hand, foot and mouth disease, an increase of more than 23% compared to the previous week, and there were 2 deaths.

The majority of deaths were in children aged 5 years old, who died 1-6 days after admission. The cause of death in 5/7 cases was determined to be Entero 71 (EV17) virus. Therefore, schools are places where the risk of disease spread is high.

According to Mr. Thuong, most of the initial cases were ignored for diagnosis of hand, foot and mouth disease when they went to private medical facilities. He suggested that there should be a document sent to medical facilities to pay attention to early detection of hand, foot and mouth disease, preventing complications and deaths for children.

Discussing the current epidemic situation, Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Thi Lien Huong said that recently, the Ministry of Health and departments, agencies and localities have actively implemented epidemic prevention measures.

However, to respond promptly and prevent diseases, provinces must urgently issue plans to prevent infectious diseases in 2023, including ensuring 4 on-site measures.

Localities that have plans, if not yet or are being submitted for approval, are requested to consult and request the Provincial People's Committee to urgently approve funding to proactively implement activities to prevent hand, foot and mouth disease and dengue fever.

At the same time, it is necessary to strengthen monitoring and supervision of the epidemic situation, early detection and timely handling of outbreaks. There must be a reporting system, because in reality, some provinces have reported late, affecting epidemic prevention and emergency treatment.

In addition, the Deputy Minister of Health reported that a company producing a vaccine to prevent hand, foot and mouth disease has just submitted a registration application to the Drug Administration. "Hopefully by the end of the year, this vaccine will be licensed," said Ms. Lien Huong.

But before waiting for the vaccine to be licensed, the Deputy Minister of Health reminded the provinces to ensure equipment, chemical supplies, and treatment drugs. Currently, all spending on epidemic prevention has been transferred to localities as regular spending.

Localities must be proactive in estimating the amount of treatment drugs, consumables, and chemicals; propose the quantity needed during the year, discuss and work with suppliers to proactively prevent epidemics.

(According to TTO)

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