The new facility, with an investment of VND2 trillion (US$77.17 million) and a capacity of up to 100 million vaccine doses per year, represents a major advancement in Vietnam’s ability to produce and supply vaccines domestically.
The groundbreaking ceremony, held on May 27, was attended by French President Emmanuel Macron, Vietnamese Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan, and other senior leaders from both countries, as part of President Macron’s state visit to Vietnam from May 25-27.
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French President Emmanuel Macron (L); Vietnam’s Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan (L, 4th); Vietnam’s Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan (R); Burak Pekmezci (L, 2nd), Country Lead at Sanofi Vietnam; and Ngo Chi Dung (C), Chairman of the Board of Directors and CEO of VNVC Vaccine Company, press the buttons to start construction of the VNVC Vaccine and Biological Products Factory. Photo by Hai Nam |
Ngo Chi Dung, chairman and CEO of VNVC Vaccine Company, said the new factory will help reduce costs, ensure a proactive domestic supply, support exports, and enable participation in the global vaccine supply chain, contributing to health security for Vietnam and the region.
Burak Pekmezci, Country Lead at Sanofi Vietnam, stated he expects the new factory, built to global standards, will soon provide vaccines, medicines, and disease prevention solutions to Vietnamese people. “This will be a breakthrough project, contributing to our mission of improving public health,” he said.
The facility is scheduled for completion in 2027 and will receive technology transfer from French firm Sanofi, prioritizing the localization of important and new technology vaccines. The factory will house various sub-areas, including research and development facilities and animal laboratories, as well as production lines for vaccines and biological products using multiple technologies. Initially, there will be three filling and packaging lines, including modern isolator technology and injection pen filling lines.
The project is designed to meet the highest international standards, including European Good Manufacturing Practice (EU GMP), US FDA GMP, and World Health Organization (WHO) GMP. It also strictly complies with Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) and international animal welfare standards (AAALAC), as well as numerous requirements for environmental protection and emissions reduction.
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The VNVC Vaccine and Biological Factory’s facade, expected to be completed by the end of 2027. Graphic by VNVC |
Sustainable features are a key focus, with the use of environmentally friendly materials such as recycled concrete and low-VOC paints. The design maximizes natural light, utilizes solar energy, and incorporates rainwater collection and reuse technologies for irrigation and cooling. An advanced insulation system helps save energy, and a wastewater treatment system ensures environmental standards are met.
Production lines are designed for flexible conversion, allowing for both mass production and focused vaccine output, critical for responding to urgent public health needs, including new pandemics.
VNVC is also investing in a 1,500-square-meter Research and Development Center (R&D) focused on advanced vaccine and biological production technologies, particularly mRNA vaccines. The center plans to collaborate with experts, universities, and pharmaceutical companies for preclinical and clinical trials in Vietnam, giving the public early access to new drugs and vaccines and shortening licensing timelines.
VNVC Vaccine Company, which launched its vaccination system in 2017, now operates more than 220 centers nationwide, supplying over 50 types of vaccines and helping prevent nearly 50 infectious diseases, including those for which vaccines are often scarce. VNVC’s deployment of key vaccines, such as those against dengue fever and meningococcal B, has contributed to protecting the health of millions of people in Vietnam.
