Meningococcal risks among young people
The importance of vaccination throughout life was among the issues discussed at the 2026 Scientific Conference of the Vietnam Medical Association, as experts examined changing patterns of infectious disease and the health challenges posed by an ageing population.
Epidemiological data presented at the conference showed that meningococcal disease is most commonly seen among children under five and people aged 15 to 24.
An estimated 25-32 per cent of adolescents and young adults carry N. meningitidis in their nasopharynx. They can act as a reservoir for the bacteria and a source of transmission, while also facing a heightened risk of developing meningococcal disease.
Vietnam had recorded 53 cases of meningococcal infection by July 30, 2026, according to data from the infectious disease surveillance system under Circular No 54/2015/TT-BYT. Ho Chi Minh City accounted for 20 cases, or 37.7 per cent of the total.
Tests on clinical samples at the Pasteur Institute in Ho Chi Minh City found that meningococcal cases recorded in southern Vietnam in 2025 belonged to serogroup B.
The conference also focused on preventive healthcare for older people as Vietnam undergoes rapid demographic change.
Vu Thi Thanh Huyen, head of the department of endocrinology and musculoskeletal medicine at the National Geriatric Hospital, said the older population was growing considerably faster than the population as a whole.
Almost two-thirds of people aged over 60 have at least one chronic condition, while about half of those affected have multiple conditions, according to data presented at the conference.
Chronic conditions can increase the risk of infectious diseases, including respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), shingles, influenza and pneumococcal disease.
The combination of a rapidly ageing population and a growing burden of chronic illness is putting greater emphasis on prevention, particularly among older people and those with underlying health conditions. Vaccination is one component of that approach.
Biologics offer new option for severe asthma
The conference also examined advances in the treatment of severe asthma, with experts highlighting a shift towards more targeted therapies for patients whose symptoms remain difficult to control.
Inhaled medicines remain a mainstay of treatment for asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), helping to reduce flare-ups, maintain disease control and improve quality of life.
Phan Thu Phuong, deputy head of the department of general internal medicine at Hanoi Medical University and director of the Bach Mai Respiratory Center, said the treatment of severe asthma was moving towards more personalised approaches, including biologic therapies.
“For patients with severe asthma who do not respond to standard treatment, the treatment trend is personalisation with biologic therapy,” Phuong said.
Biologic medicines target specific pathways involved in the disease and can reduce asthma exacerbations and the need for oral corticosteroids, while improving patients’ physical and social functioning. In some cases, the aim is to achieve remission, she said.
The discussions at the conference reflected a broader shift in healthcare towards preventing disease before it becomes severe and tailoring treatment to individual patients, particularly as Vietnam’s population grows older and the prevalence of chronic conditions increases.
GSK Vietnam said it would continue to work with the Vietnam Medical Association, healthcare professionals and the wider health sector on efforts to improve healthcare quality across different stages of life.
