Vietnam: Prices of some private vaccines soar as parents avoid a brand provided free by the government

[Emily]

http://www.saigon-gpdaily.com.vn/Health/2013/11/107115/

Friday, Nov 29, 2013, Posted at: 13:56(GMT+7)
No control on vaccine prices in HCMC

Recent deaths and hospitalization of infants after vaccination has increased worry and fear among parents who now are resorting to willing pay more for better quality vaccines than use those provided free in the Government Expanded Program on Immunization...

http://www.saigon-gpdaily.com.vn/Health/2013/11/106991/

Wednesday, Nov 20, 2013, Posted at: 15:45(GMT+7)
Figure of vaccinated children drops in Da Lat Town

Around 1,618 infants or 45 percent were injected with the Korean-made vaccine Quinvaxem in the central highland town of Da Lat, according to Dr. Chu The Vinh, Head of Preventive Medicine Center in Da Lat Town in Lam Dong Province.

The figure shows a sharp fall in vaccinations in children compared to previous times when 90 percent were vaccinated, due to adverse information that worried parents.
...

http://www.saigon-gpdaily.com.vn/Health/2013/11/107066/

Wednesday, Nov 27, 2013, Posted at: 13:31(GMT+7)
Infant dies in Bac Lieu Province after vaccination

Health authorities are investigating the death of a five-month-old infant from Quinvaxem vaccine injection at a medical clinic in Bac Lieu Province in the Mekong Delta on November 24...

 

[Emily]

Re: Vietnam: Prices of some private vaccines soar as parents avoid a brand provided free by the government

http://www.thanhniennews.com/health/4th-baby-dies-as-vietnam-brings-back-controversial-quinvaxem-24775.html

4th baby dies as Vietnam brings back controversial Quinvaxem
Monday, March 24, 2014 19:48
A 6-month-old baby died last week after being administered the Dutch vaccine Quinvaxem which has been linked to 11 other infant deaths since late 2012.
The girl from the northern province of Bac Giang, identified only as Vu Dinh Tuong V., died on March 20, 12 hours after the vaccination at a district medical center, Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper reported.
She became at least the fourth fatality related to the five-in-one Dutch made vaccine since it was reintroduced last October.
The Ministry of Health issued a temporary ban on its use last May to investigate into its connection with nine deaths between November 2012 and March 2013, but the World Health Organization (WHO) then confirmed it was safe and pushed a lift of the ban.
V.'s father Vu Van Hiep said the shot was her second one.
She received it at 10 in the morning and began to struggle in the afternoon. She began sweating and her arms and legs turned cold.
She died at Bac Giang General Hospital....

Some problems at the plant that supplies Vietnam back in 2010:
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-02-10/crucell-s-quinvaxem-problems-have-been-resolved-who-says.html

Crucell?s Quinvaxem Problems Are Resolved, WHO Says
By Naomi Kresge Feb 10, 2011 8:29 AM PT

...

Crucell said Oct. 28 it stopped making Quinvaxem, which protects against five childhood diseases, and the Hepavax-Gene shot for hepatitis B because of contamination caused by power failures at the Shingal plant. Crucell, based in Leiden, Netherlands, has taken steps to improve oversight and maintenance, WHO said.

?WHO is confident that Crucell is operating according to good manufacturing practices,? the agency said.

Crucell spokeswoman Oya Yavuz didn?t immediately return a call seeking comment today....