The first doses of a measles vaccine produced domestically by the Centre for Research and Production of Vaccine and Bio-medical Products (POLYVAC) have been put in circulation under license by the Health Ministry.

Using 300 billion VND in non-refundable aid from the Japanese Government and the assistance of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), POLYVAC began construction of a facility for measles vaccine production in 2004.

The state-of-the-art facility, a first for Vietnam as well as Southeast Asia , conforms with the Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standards of the World Health Organisation and started operating in March 2006.

After a testing phase, POLYVAC, with the assistance of Japanese experts, has successfully produced the first doses of a measles vaccine.

POLYVAC Director Nguyen Dang Hien told Vietnam News Agency that measles is one of only a few dangerous diseases that are targeted by the Health Ministry as part of the country’s expanded national immunisation programme, so the production of a domestic vaccine for the disease is significant.

With a plan to produce about 7.5 million doses of measles vaccine per year, Vietnam will have no trouble meeting both national and foreign demand.

According to the Health Ministry, every year, Vietnam needs about 5 million doses of measles vaccine for children aged between 9-11 months, first graders and adults who are living in high-risk areas. In the past, all the necessary vaccine was imported./.