Why Are Chickenpox Hospitalizations Rising in Vietnam Despite Vaccine Availability?

The recent scientific conference on chickenpox, featuring insights from Associate Professor Pham Quang Thai of the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, highlights a persistent and concerning issue within Vietnam's public health landscape. While chickenpox is a globally recognized disease with significant mortality rates, its impact in Vietnam, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region, is marked by a shift towards more severe cases in adults and a concerning increase in hospitalizations.

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Chickenpox - 2nd generation vaccine MAV/06 and updates from the World Health Organization (WHO)

The core of the problem, as elucidated by Dr. Thai, lies in the accessibility and perception of the chickenpox vaccine. Unlike many other essential vaccines, it is not included in Vietnam's Expanded Program on Immunization. This necessitates private payment, a barrier that leads many families and local authorities to prioritize other vaccinations or simply monitor outbreaks rather than proactively prevent them. This is a critical oversight, especially considering the disease's high transmissibility, even during its incubation period.

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Each year, more than 4,200 deaths worldwide are caused by chickenpox.

The statistics are stark: over 63,000 hospitalizations were reported in a single peak year (2018), and a resurgence since 2023 signals an ongoing threat. Beyond the immediate risks of severe complications like encephalitis and pneumonia, the long-term consequences, including disfiguring scars and the reactivation of the virus as shingles even in young adults, underscore the need for a more robust vaccination strategy. The current situation, where widespread outbreaks in schools and severe cases continue to be recorded, demands a re-evaluation of vaccine inclusion and public awareness campaigns.

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In Vietnam, chickenpox has consistently ranked among the top 5 most common infectious diseases.