Human vaccines offer longstanding protection, playing an indispensable role in human health. In modern life, vaccination has become the most effective way to prevent from specific diseases, especially pestilences and infection, widely accepted by people.
By the end of 2023, Vietnam’s total population has surpassed 100 million, with a net population growth of more than 1 million annually. As the economy progressing and capital income increasing, the pharmaceutical industry in Vietnam is growing vigorously. Also, the Vietnam government continues to issue support policies and expand healthcare spending. For example, the national strategy for pharmaceutical industry development through 2030, with a vision to 2045 approved in 2023 set out clear development targets for specific industry including vaccines. According to CRI, Vietnam's free trade agreements have removed market access barriers for foreign companies in its pharmaceutical industry, and import tariffs on medicines from Europe and some regions are very low or even non-existent. Vietnam's pharmaceutical industry is highly dependent on imported pharmaceutical products.
Vaccines can prevent certain diseases, reduce the spread of illness, and improve public health. CRI has analyzed that the demand for human vaccines in Vietnam is steadily increasing. However, due to limited domestic production capacity, Vietnam's human vaccine market mainly relies on imported products. In recent years, Vietnam has imported a large number of vaccines, including COVID-19 vaccines, influenza vaccines, HPV vaccines, and quadrivalent and hexavalent pediatric vaccines. The demand for vaccines in Vietnam is high, especially in the post-COVID-19 era, as both the government and the public place greater emphasis on health, leading to an increase in the number of imported human vaccines.
The vaccine industry involves upstream sectors such as raw material supply (e.g., antigens, adjuvants), manufacturing (including research, production, and quality control), and downstream sectors like distribution and vaccination services. Vaccine production requires strict hygiene conditions, advanced production equipment and technology, and high standards of quality control. Leading global vaccine producers and exporters are typically large biopharmaceutical companies with strong R&D capabilities, such as Pfizer, Moderna, and AstraZeneca. Currently, Vietnamese domestic companies are only able to produce a limited variety of vaccines.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Vietnam imported a significant number of vaccines to meet the urgent demand. According to CRI, because of the underdeveloped infrastructure and technology for human vaccine production in Vietnam, the country is heavily reliant on the international market for supply. Moreover, the Vietnamese government is highly committed to public health, promoting higher vaccination rates through the National Immunization Program (NIP), which covers a range of common infectious diseases. Vietnam has entered into cooperation agreements with various international vaccine suppliers to ensure a stable supply of vaccines.
Based on data from CRI, in 2023, Vietnam's total imports of human vaccines reached USD 470 million. From January to May 2024, Vietnam's total vaccine imports exceeded USD 250 million, representing a year-on-year growth of over 30%. This trend is expected to continue at a steady growth rate in the coming years.
CRI's analysis reveals that from 2021 to 2024, Vietnam's primary sources of human vaccine imports were the United States, France, and Belgium. Major companies exporting human vaccines to Vietnam include GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals S.A., Merck Sharp & Dohme (Asia) Ltd., and Sanofi Pasteur.
The main importers of human vaccines in Vietnam are pharmaceutical companies, distributors, and logistics providers, mostly foreign enterprises, such as GSK Pharma Vietnam Company, MSD HH Vietnam Ltd., and Sanofi-Aventis Vietnam Company.
Overall, with Vietnam's growing population and rising economic level, coupled with increased awareness of health, the size of Vietnam's human vaccine market is set to expand. CRI's analysis indicates that due to the relatively low production capacity and technological levels of domestic human vaccines, Vietnam's human vaccine imports are expected to continue growing in the coming years.
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