Millions of children in Vietnam have been protected through vaccination over the past 40 years
According to the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), vaccination has protected millions of children in Vietnam from many diseases over the past 40 years.
The number of children dying from vaccine-preventable diseases has decreased significantly since Vietnam began implementing the National Expanded Program on Immunization in 1981, with the goal of ensuring that all children Every part of the country has access to preventive vaccines.
With tens of millions of children vaccinated since the program launched, Vietnam has prevented smallpox and polio, eliminated neonatal tetanus, and significantly reduced the number of preventable diseases. vaccines such as measles, diphtheria, pertussis and Japanese encephalitis.
Vaccines are one of humanity’s greatest achievements. Over the past 50 years, vaccines have saved nearly 154 million lives (equivalent to more than 3 million each year) globally. Today, more children are celebrating their first birthday than at any other time in human history.
Ms. Rana Flowers, UNICEF Representative in Vietnam, said that Vietnam’s vaccination program has contributed to saving children’s lives and reducing the severe impact of vaccine-preventable diseases on families. , community and country for more than 40 years.
“In the future, we really hope that the Vietnamese Government maintains this great achievement so that every child has the opportunity to live, develop and be healthy,” Ms. Rana Flowers expressed.
In Vietnam, vaccines under the Expanded Program on Immunization are provided free of charge to children. Vaccination is the safest and most effective way to protect children against many deadly preventable diseases.
However, like many other countries, regular vaccination services in Vietnam have been interrupted due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Unvaccinated children are at high risk of serious illness.
Additionally, unvaccinated large numbers of children could lead to outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases. These risks are threatening the achievements that Vietnam has achieved in reducing child mortality over the past few decades.
The government needs to work quickly and act decisively to ensure that essential vaccines reach every child on time, not just those scheduled for vaccination but also those who have missed their vaccination schedule for four years. last year.
WHO Representative in Vietnam, Dr. Angela Pratt, said that Vietnam’s success in eliminating a number of diseases and significantly reducing the incidence of vaccine-preventable diseases shows the power of vaccination. strain. These results are the result of the Government’s direction along with the strong cooperation of health workers from all parts of the country, local partners, community organizations, leaders and communities in Vietnam. localities, international development partners, donors and scientists for many years.
Immunization Week 2024 takes place from April 24-30 in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the Global Expanded Program on Immunization, this is an opportunity to honor the achievements of Expanded Immunization, highlight the impact of the Expanded Program on Immunization to save lives, protect human health, and promote innovative initiatives to strengthen this important vaccination work.
The Expanded Program on Immunization in Vietnam has been widely deployed across the country for nearly 40 years for priority groups of children and women. The Expanded Program on Immunization has made an important contribution to achieving results. Polio was eradicated in 2000, neonatal tetanus was eliminated in 2005, and the incidence of dangerous infectious diseases was significantly reduced.
According to Hien Minh (Chinhphu.vn)
