The Ministry of Health has directed relevant units to ensure the adequate supply of vaccines, medical equipment, and supplies; and also instructed local authorities to proactively carry out immunisation activities.

Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Thi Lien Huong has had a meeting with Chief Programme Officer at Gavi Aurelia Nguyen to discuss current and future support for Vietnam under the Vaccine Alliance’s strategy for assisting middle-income countries in the 2021 - 2025 and 2026 - 2030 periods.

Millions of children in Vietnam have been protected by immunisation over the past 40 years, said the World Health Organisation (WHO) and UNICEF offices in Vietnam on April 25 when they mark the World Immunisation Week from April 24-30.

Vietnam has established itself as one of the leading countries in the fight against emerging diseases in the context of a number of dangerous and fast-spreading epidemics in the world over the past years like COVID-19 and earlier, SARS or MERS-CoV.

In 2023, the central budget will continue to be allocated for the Ministry of Health to purchase vaccines for the expanded programme on immunisation for all localities nationwide, according to Resolution No.98 recently issued by the Government.

There are increasing concerns the prolonged vaccine shortage may soon lead to the resurgence of infectious diseases in Vietnam.

Vietnam is expected to receive over 100,000 doses of rotavirus vaccine next year for pilot use before making them available in its expanded programme on immunisation (EPI) that offers free vaccination to under-1 children.

Children aged between 5-11 will be vaccinated against COVID-19 from early April, according to the Health Ministry.

A meeting in response to the Immunisation Week took place in the central province of Thanh Hoa on May 14.