POLYVAC

The former Poliomyelitis Vaccine Research and Production Center (POLIOVAC) now the Center for Research and Production of Vaccines and Biologicals (POLYVAC) was established in 1994 by the Ministry of Health of Vietnam from the Division of Sabin’s Oral Polio Vaccine Production of the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, with the task of carrying out experimental research, application of new technologies for production of Vaccine and biological products in accordance with Ministry of Health’s plan for sufficient provision of vaccine for the country Expanded Programe on Immunization. The Center is the first facility among vaccine production centers in the countries that operated by self accounting mechanism.

From the end of 1962, the Division of Sabin’s Oral Polio Vaccine Production of the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology was able to produce 2 million doses of oral polio vaccine for children of North Vietnam. In 1963 no major polio epidemics were recorded in North Vietnam. During the years of American war a certain amount of oral polio vaccine was sent to the liberated zones in South Vietnam for children vaccination.

The Japanese scientists have helped Vietnamese colleagues with their enthusiasm and devotion. They have provided good strains, training of staff and provision of equipment for modernization of production line which was able to produce Sabin’s oral polio vaccine which met international standards and its efficacy was recognized by WHO in the National Expanded Program on Immunization.

With the great efforts of all professionals and staff, with unity and self sufficiency spirit in order to fulfill the assigned tasks and duties, the quantity of vaccine produced by the Center has increased every year, from 17 million doses in 1994 to 20 million in 1998 and 37 millions in 1997, meeting the national vaccination demand for all children in the country for eventual recognition in 2000 by WHO that Vietnam was polio free.

Besides the production of OPV, Center also conducts research and produces many other vaccines to protect health for people such as: IPV, Rotavirus vaccines and measles vaccines meets GMP/WHO with technology transferred by Japan. At present, measles vaccine has been licensed to marketing. Since 2010, Vietnam will stop importing measles vaccine, while being active in preventing and controlling measles as recommended by WHO. The Rotavirus vaccine has been licensed also in 2012 . In the near future, we will produce this vaccine at large scale and use in National Expanded Program of Immunization.

Prof. Doctor Nguyen Van Man was Director of the Center from 1994 to 2004. From 1st January 2005, Dr Nguyen Dang Hien was appointed Center’s Director.