VNVC, Pfizer expand cooperation to strengthen Vietnam's vaccine capabilities

VNVC and Pfizer plan to expand cooperation on vaccination and disease prevention as Vietnam develops domestic vaccine manufacturing capacity, including plans to assess production of new-generation vaccines.

Vietnam Vaccine Joint Stock Company (VNVC) and U.S. pharmaceutical company Pfizer exchanged cooperation documents in New York on Sept. 22 to explore ways to strengthen Vietnam's vaccination capacity, disease prevention and public health preparedness.

The exchange took place during a visit to Pfizer by Vietnam's Party General Secretary and President To Lam and a high-level Vietnamese delegation on the sidelines of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly.

The two companies aim to combine their expertise and resources to support vaccination, strengthen the public health system's ability to respond to disease threats, and contribute to Vietnam's long-term healthcare goals.

Vietnam's Party General Secretary and President To Lam and the Vietnamese delegation witness the exchange of cooperation documents between Pfizer and VNVC. Photo by VNA

The agreement builds on a memorandum of cooperation signed by VNVC and Pfizer in March 2025 in the presence of representatives from Vietnam's Ministry of Health and the U.S. Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City.

Under the earlier agreement, Pfizer agreed to share knowledge and support VNVC in developing an internationally compliant vaccine manufacturing facility in Vietnam. The cooperation is intended to meet domestic demand initially and eventually enable Vietnam to participate in the global vaccine supply chain.

Pfizer develops medicines and vaccines for disease prevention and treatment. The company said its medicines and vaccines reached more than 448 million patients worldwide in 2025.

VNVC operates nearly 300 vaccination centers across Vietnam, administering vaccines against infectious diseases including pneumococcal disease, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and meningococcal disease.

VNVC administers Pfizer vaccines in Vietnam, including vaccines against pneumococcal disease, RSV, and meningococcal disease. Photo by Thai Loc

In May 2025, VNVC broke ground on its Vaccine and Biological Manufacturing Plant in Tay Ninh Province to support technology transfer and domestic vaccine production.

The facility covers more than 26,000 square meters, with first-phase investment exceeding VND2.5 trillion (US$96.12 million) and a designed capacity of around 100–120 million doses a year.

VNVC said the plant is being developed to meet international manufacturing standards, including WHO-GMP, EU-GMP and FDA-cGMP.

The company aims to complete infrastructure and manufacturing lines in 2027–2028, progressively acquire manufacturing processes and technologies, and bring vaccines produced in Vietnam to market from 2029.

VNVC is also working with international pharmaceutical companies and research organizations, including GSK in the U.K. and Russia's Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), Gamaleya National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Binnopharm and Medsintez.

At the Vietnam-France Business Forum in Paris on Sept. 10, VNVC and French pharmaceutical company Sanofi exchanged a joint statement identifying three vaccine candidates for potential manufacturing cooperation.

They include a six-in-one vaccine containing an acellular pertussis component, a seasonal influenza vaccine, and a meningococcal vaccine targeting serogroups A, C, Y and W.

The six-in-one vaccine is designed to protect against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, poliomyelitis, hepatitis B and Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib). The influenza vaccine targets influenza viruses, while the quadrivalent meningococcal vaccine targets four serogroups associated with invasive meningococcal disease.

The three products have been identified for assessment under the proposed cooperation, but their inclusion does not mean technology transfer or manufacturing arrangements have been finalized.

Under the proposed roadmap, VNVC and Sanofi aim to produce the first vaccine batches from 2028 and bring the products to market from 2029.

Together with the cooperation being explored with Pfizer, the plans are part of VNVC's efforts to develop the expertise, manufacturing infrastructure and international partnerships needed for vaccine production in Vietnam.