SGGPO 06/14/2023 22:39

The Minister of Health said that to address the shortage of vaccines for expanded immunization, the Ministry of Health has worked with partners. Up to this point, WHO and UNICEF have agreed to find vaccine sources for Vietnam.

On the afternoon of June 14, speaking to the press about the shortage of vaccines in the expanded immunization program, which increases the risk of disease outbreaks, Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan said that for the 9 types of vaccines in the expanded immunization program produced domestically, the DPT vaccine against diphtheria - whooping cough - tetanus (refresher shot for children 18-24 months old) is currently out of stock. However, the shortage of vaccines is during the period when children are not yet due for a booster shot because we have already vaccinated children in March. Therefore, right after implementing the bidding and procurement of vaccines, we will still have enough DPT vaccine to vaccinate children up to 24 months old. DPT vaccine manufacturers also affirmed that they are always ready to immediately supply this vaccine to the expanded immunization program when there is a decision on bidding and procurement.

There is no shortage of other vaccines in the expanded basic immunization program and commune/ward health stations still vaccinate children normally.

The Minister of Health also said that among the expanded immunization vaccines, currently only the imported "5 in 1" vaccine (diphtheria - whooping cough - tetanus - hepatitis B - Hib meningitis) has been in short supply for many months.

Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan informs about solutions to overcome vaccine shortage

According to Minister Dao Hong Lan, the lack of vaccines in the expanded immunization program in recent times is due to the lack of state budget allocated to the Ministry of Health for procurement, bidding, and negotiating vaccine purchase prices.

However, the Minister of Health also said that to address the shortage of vaccines for expanded immunization, the Ministry of Health has worked with partners. Up to this point, WHO and UNICEF have agreed to find vaccine sources for Vietnam.

Accordingly, over 200,000 doses of the "5 in 1" vaccine will be urgently supported by these organizations, plus more than 65,000 doses from domestic funding sources, ensuring priority vaccines for children at the age of vaccination. With this amount of supported vaccines, the Ministry of Health will prioritize allocation to children in remote areas, areas with difficult conditions, where children have difficulty accessing vaccine services. Currently, the units of the ministry are completing procedures to receive this support.

Expanded immunization program lacks vaccines, increasing the risk of disease in children

The Minister of Health also said that the ministry has worked and agreed to report to the National Assembly Standing Committee's monitoring delegation to include the content of continuing to allocate the central budget so that the Ministry of Health can continue to implement the expanded immunization program effectively and consistently nationwide. Thus, the implementation of the expanded immunization program this year and the following years will no longer be entangled.