This information was shared by Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Vu Trung, Director of Pasteur Institute Ho Chi Minh City, at the conference on implementing Phase 3 clinical trial of V181 (Mobilize-1) vaccine, held on November 7th in Dong Thap province.
Heavy Disease Burden
Dengue fever is considered one of the top 10 global health issues by the World Health Organization. Globally, dengue affects over 100 countries, with more than half of the world’s population living in endemic areas. Annually, the world records approximately 100-400 million dengue cases.
Dengue fever is one of the key public health concerns in Vietnam, especially in the Southern region. The disease is highly endemic, has complex seasonal patterns, severely impacts community health, and places a significant burden on the healthcare system.
Vietnam is also one of the countries heavily affected by dengue, with approximately 100,000 cases reported annually.
According to Ministry of Health data, from the beginning of the year until the end of October, the country recorded 135,515 cases and 26 deaths. Of these, the Southern region accounted for 103,601 cases, over 76% of the total. Ho Chi Minh City alone reported 48,053 cases and 16 deaths.
“The burden of dengue fever not only impacts healthcare but also affects the economy, society, and many other sectors,” stated Assoc. Prof. Nguyen Vu Trung.
In the Southern region, Dong Thap is one of the key dengue-prone localities, alongside Ho Chi Minh City, Dong Nai, Tay Ninh, and An Giang.
Sharing at the conference, Dr. Vo Thanh Nhon, Director of Dong Thap Provincial Centers for Disease Control, stated that as of September 30th, dengue cases in Dong Thap significantly increased from 1,004 cases (in 2024) to 2,510 cases.
“Compared to the same period in 2024, the number of recorded cases increased by 113%. The number of outbreaks in 2025 is approximately 5 times higher than in 2024. This increase partly aligns with the disease cycle returning after about three years,” the doctor shared.
The total number of predicted cases for the entire year 2025 in Dong Thap is approximately 6,811. According to Dr. Nhon, this figure has not yet reached the record high of 2022, but the epidemic trend shows rapid growth, demanding high vigilance.
According to Assoc. Prof. Nguyen Vu Trung, the cycle and timing of dengue outbreaks are no longer as they used to be but have changed, indicating an increasingly complex epidemic risk. Vaccines are always the most effective solution to control this disease.
Notably, this year, the situation of storms and floods has been extremely complex. Pasteur Institute Ho Chi Minh City has conducted numerous studies, evaluations, and forecasts, and has also informed the Ministry of Health about the unpredictable developments of dengue fever this year.
“The implementation of this large-scale, multinational Phase 3 clinical trial for a dengue vaccine in Vietnam is an important step in the journey of researching and developing an additional solution for dengue prevention.
We earnestly hope for the cooperation of local authorities, healthcare facilities, and the trust and support from the community to achieve the study’s objectives and complete it on schedule,” expressed the Director of Pasteur Institute Ho Chi Minh City.
4,000 Children Aged 2-17 to Participate in Vaccine Trial
The V181 vaccine is the latest dengue vaccine, administered as a single dose, researched and developed by the US National Institutes of Health. The Phase 3 clinical trial is the pivotal, final study to evaluate the safety, immunogenicity, and protective efficacy of V181.
Results from a Phase 3 clinical trial of V181 involving 16,235 participants aged 2 years and older in Latin American countries showed that the vaccine’s protective efficacy reached 80.1% in the 2-6 age group and 77.8% in the 7-17 age group.
Regarding safety, to date, no serious adverse reactions related to the V181 vaccine have been reported in ongoing or completed studies.
Currently, six Southeast Asian countries are conducting trials, including Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Indonesia, and Thailand, with 12,000 children aged 2-17 participating in the study.
In Vietnam, 4,000 children are participating in Dong Thap (Cai Lay Regional General Hospital, Dong Thap General Hospital), An Giang (Kien Giang Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital), and Da Nang (Quang Nam Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital).
The study is expected to begin recruitment communication activities for participating children from October-November, with vaccinations starting in December, followed by a five-year monitoring period (2026-2030).
Potential participants in the 2-17 age group will be invited to study sites for consultation, examination, and testing. If eligible and with guardian consent, participants will be randomly assigned to receive either a vaccine dose or a placebo.
Final results on the vaccine’s protective efficacy will be available in another five years. If the vaccine proves effective, the world will have an additional option for dengue prevention.
