A child gets vaccination in Ho Chi Minh City. The Vietnam Drug Administration has asked vaccine maker Vabiotech to reduce prices(photo: Tuoi Tre)

The Vietnam Drug Administration (VDA) has ordered the Vaccine and Biological product company No.1 (Vabiotech) to reduce the prices of nine vaccines, four of them imported.

VDA deputy head Nguyen Viet Hung said Hanoi-based Vabiotech flouted regulations by increasing the prices of these vaccines without permission from his agency or the Hanoi Department of Health.

He added that if Vabiotech refuses to roll back the prices, the VDA would prohibit it from distributing drugs and not issue licenses to import drugs and raw materials.