In Decision No. 145/QD-QLD on issuing a list of 13 vaccines and biological products licensed and extended for circulation in Vietnam, the Drug Administration of Vietnam (Ministry of Health) has approved the circulation of many new vaccines, including Envacgen vaccine for hand, foot and mouth disease caused by Enterovirus A71 (EV71) strain.
This is an inactivated vaccine in syringe form, indicated to prevent severe complications caused by EV71 - the most dangerous virus strain associated with hand, foot and mouth disease in children.
According to information from management agencies, each dose of Envacgen vaccine contains 2.5 mcg of EV71 virus antigen in 0.5 ml of solution. The vaccine is researched and produced by Medigen Vaccine Biologics Group (Taiwan, China) and licensed for circulation in Vietnam for a period of 3 years.
The product is packaged as a 0.5 ml pre-loaded syringe, convenient for use, with two specifications: Box 1 syringe or box 20 syringe.
Previously, from 2019, the vaccine was clinically tested in phase 3 in Vietnam, and phases 1 and 2 were studied in Taiwan (China) from 2010.
Experts believe that EV71 is one of the main agents causing hand, foot and mouth disease and can lead to many dangerous complications such as encephalitis, meningitis, and even respiratory failure in young children. Therefore, the licensing of this vaccine for circulation is considered an important step forward in proactive disease prevention.
In the context that hand, foot and mouth disease is still a constant concern for many families, especially during peak seasons, supplementing with vaccines to prevent the disease not only contributes to reducing the risk of disease but also helps minimize severe complications.
Hand, foot and mouth disease is caused by two common groups of pathogens: Coxsackie virus A16 (CA16) and Enterovirus 71 (EV71). Cases of CA16 infection often exhibit mild illness, which can be cared for and treated at home. Meanwhile, EV71 causes more severe illness with many dangerous complications such as encephalitis, meningitis, myocarditis, pneumonia, pulmonary edema, respiratory failure, circulatory failure, which can lead to death if not treated promptly. The risk of severe illness due to EV71 increases 16 times compared to infection with other hand, foot and mouth virus strains.
Hand, foot and mouth disease is contagious when direct contact with nasal, pharyngeal, throat secretions, saliva and blisters or indirect contact with secretions and excretions of patients on household appliances, toys, tables and chairs, floors...
Initial symptoms of the disease include: Fever, loss of appetite, discomfort and sore throat. One to two days after the fever, children develop ulcers on the tongue, gums and inside the cheeks causing pain and burning. Flat or raised red rash, accompanied by blisters concentrated in the palms of the hands or soles of the feet, may appear in the buttocks and genitals.
Children under 5 years old have an incomplete immune system, so they are more susceptible to diseases than older children and adults. Nursing homes and kindergartens are places with a high risk of infection and outbreaks.
