Heath ministry to add four more vaccines to Expanded Immunization Program

These vaccines are Rotavirus vaccine, Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV), Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine and seasonal influenza vaccine.

At present, the Rotavirus vaccination is currently being piloted in several provinces and cities and is expected to be rolled out nationwide by the end of 2024. The Rotavirus vaccine protects children from diarrhea.

PCV will be first administered in five provinces and cities in 2025 and will be rolled out nationwide in 2030. PCV prevents dangerous diseases such as pneumonia, meningitis, and sepsis.

HPV will be included in the Expanded Immunization Program from 2026 for girls aged 11. HPV helps women avoid HPV infection, the leading cause of cervical cancer.

The seasonal influenza vaccine is expected to be rolled out in 2030. The seasonal influenza vaccine helps protect against four influenza viruses.

The NEPI was launched in 1981, providing immunization to 12 vaccine preventable diseases of Tuberculosis, Hepatitis B, Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus, Polio, Hib, Measles, Rubella, Japanese Encephalitis, Cholera (in high-risk areas), and Typhoid (in high-risk areas).

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), in Viet Nam, it is estimated that EPI has saved 42,000 lives and prevented more than 6.7 million childhood diseases like polio, tetanus, diphtheria, measles and pertussis with high vaccine coverage.

Official 2017 data indicated a coverage of 97 percent for Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG), 97 percent for measles-containing vaccine (MCV) first dose, and 93 percent for MCV second dose./.