Vietnam Health Ministry Sets Goals for Vaccination Program

Vietnam’s Ministry of Health has called for increased efforts to provide effective and safe vaccines under the National Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) to all children in the country, state media reported. The announcement was made at a meeting to celebrate Immunization Week 2016 in Thanh Haa Province last week. Officials noted that between three to five% of children under-12 months have not received all vaccinations, as called for under the EPI. Also, about 10% of 18­-month-old children had not received their repeated doses of measles, diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus vaccines, according to Nguyen Thanh Long, Deputy Minister of Health. Health ministry statistics show that the EPI has saved an estimated 42,000 lives and prevented more than 6.7 million childhood diseases, such as polio, tetanus, diphtheria, measles and pertussis, due to the high number of children receiving immunizations. Additionally, over the last five years, the immunization rate for Hepatitis B vaccinations among new born babies has increased from 21% to 69.8%. These achievements are due to tireless efforts of front line health workers and the strong commitment by the government, according to the health ministry. (sggp.org.vn May 14)