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| Doctors check for hemorrhagic rash on a patient's body. (Photo: VNA) |
According to statistics from the Department of Preventive Medicine under the Ministry of Health, approximately 80,000 cases of dengue fever and 12 related deaths were reported across Vietnam from the beginning of the year until the end of September 2024.
Currently, all four types of Dengue virus circulate in Vietnam, with DENV-1 and DENV-2 being predominant. In 2023, the DENV-2 type accounted for 88% of cases, while in 2024, it made up around 70%. The DENV-2 strain is often associated with severe dengue cases, outbreaks, and is a significant cause of dengue-related fatalities.
Health experts note that individuals can contract dengue fever multiple times in their lifetime from different virus types, with the second infection posing a higher risk of severity than the first.
In Vietnam, a dengue vaccine has been developed to help prevent the disease. Currently, the Qdenga dengue vaccine, licensed for distribution by Decision 308/QD-QLD on May 14, 2024, by the Drug Administration of Vietnam, is available as a service-based vaccination in the country.
The Department of Preventive Medicine stated that incorporating the dengue vaccine into the expanded immunization program would need to be compliant with the Law on Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases, which requires the inclusion of a vaccine-preventable disease category to ensure free immunization for the public.
To integrate the dengue vaccine into the national immunization program, several assessments are necessary, including the disease burden, vaccine safety, immune effectiveness, community acceptance and economic evaluation of the dengue vaccine's effectiveness.
The Ministry of Health is conducting evaluations on these factors in cooperation with various agencies. If deemed appropriate, it will propose the vaccine's inclusion in the program for free vaccination.
The dengue vaccine is seen as a new tool in combating dengue, aiming to reduce infection rates and prevent severe cases requiring hospitalization or resulting in death, ultimately contributing to the overarching goal of protecting, caring for, and improving public health./.