Vaccine coverage - key to protecting the community in Viet Nam
Vietnam has seen a strong recovery in its immunization program following the COVID-19 pandemic, with significant increases in vaccine coverage for children. Despite this success, health officials warn that immunity gaps remain due to misinformation and missed appointments.
Why it matters
Maintaining high vaccination rates is critical for public health and the prevention of infectious disease outbreaks in developing nations.
Viet Nam launched its Expanded Programme on Immunisation in 1981, aiming to make vaccines available to children in every region. Over more than four decades, the programme has achieved several major milestones: eradicating smallpox and polio in 2000, eliminating neonatal tetanus in 2005, and significantly reducing the incidence of many infectious diseases, including measles, diphtheria, whooping cough and Japanese encephalitis.
A missed dose can leave a gap in protection
The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted routine immunisation, leaving some children without their scheduled vaccinations. In the years that followed, the health sector focused on restoring coverage, particularly in hard-to-reach areas, and these efforts have yielded clear results.
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