The vaccine, produced by the pharmaceutical group GSK (UK), is the first of its kind with a specialized adjuvant designed for individuals aged 60 and above, especially those with chronic diseases. This technology enhances early and accurate virus detection, leading to effective and lasting disease prevention in individuals with weakened health, aging immune systems, and chronic conditions.

Only one dose is required. Tam Anh General Hospital System, part of the same healthcare ecosystem as VNVC, is also simultaneously administering this vaccine.

Older adults and those with underlying conditions undergo screening by doctors before receiving GSK's RSV vaccine at VNVC Hoang Van Thu, TP HCM, on 14/12. Photo: Nhan Le

According to Doctor Bach Thi Chinh, Medical Director of VNVC Vaccination System, the vaccine has been approved in nearly 70 countries, with over 10 million doses administered. Clinical study documents involving 25.000 people demonstrate that the vaccine achieves over 82% protective efficacy in individuals over 60 years old and nearly 95% in those with at least one underlying medical condition.

RSV is a common cause of pneumonia, bronchiolitis, respiratory failure, and hospitalization. In older adults, particularly those with underlying conditions such as cardiovascular disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes, or kidney failure, RSV infection often progresses rapidly, leading to severe complications that increase the risk of mortality and acute cardiovascular events.

A study on the burden of RSV disease in adults aged 60 and above in high-income countries, published in the US National Library of Medicine, indicates that RSV causes approximately 5,2 million cases and 33.000 inpatient deaths annually among individuals over 60 in these nations. An analysis released in 11/2022 by ESWI, a respected European scientific forum on influenza and respiratory diseases, further confirmed RSV as a significant cause of disease burden in older adults in high-income countries, leading to hundreds of thousands of hospitalizations each year.

Older adults and those with underlying conditions undergo screening by doctors before receiving GSK's RSV vaccine at VNVC Hoang Van Thu, TP HCM, on 14/12. Photo: Nhan Le

In Vietnam, hospitals regularly report severe RSV cases in older patients. Doctor Phan Thi Xuan, Head of the Intensive Care and Anti-Poisoning Department and Head of the Emergency Department at Tam Anh General Hospital TP HCM, recalled a 58-year-old male patient with a history of diabetes and hypertension who was admitted for a cough and chest pain. Test results revealed the patient was infected with RSV, co-infected with Covid-19 and influenza A, and developed severe brain hemorrhage. Despite specialized treatment protocols and modern equipment, the patient did not respond to treatment and passed away.

Associate Professor Doctor Tran Dac Phu, former Director of the Department of Preventive Medicine, was one of the first to receive GSK's RSV vaccine at VNVC Truong Chinh (Hanoi). He noted that RSV is a virus causing pneumonia, which can quickly progress to severe illness and carry a high mortality risk for older adults and individuals with underlying conditions. Currently, RSV surveillance is limited, primarily conducted at a few large hospitals, which does not fully reflect the disease burden in the community. According to him, the vaccine helps protect at-risk groups, reduces treatment pressure, and limits the burden of RSV disease.

VNVC is a major vaccination service provider in Vietnam, operating over 250 centers nationwide. Since the beginning of the year, the organization has collaborated to bring several other new-generation vaccines and biologics to Vietnam: pneumococcal 15, pneumococcal 20, various meningococcal vaccines, Pfizer's RSV shot for pregnant women and individuals aged 60 and above, and Sanofi's RSV monoclonal antibody for infants up to 24 months old.

Gia Nghi