Millions of children in Vietnam have been protected by immunization over the past 40 years, the World Health Organization and UNICEF offices in Vietnam have said as they mark World Immunization Week from April 24 to 30.

The number of children dying from vaccine-preventable causes in Vietnam has reduced significantly since 1981, when Vietnam introduced its Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) with the aim of ensuring that every child, everywhere in the country can receive the lifesaving protection of routine vaccinations, the UN agencies said in a press release on Thursday.

Since the start of the program, Vietnam has eradicated smallpox and polio, eliminated neonatal tetanus, and dramatically reduced other vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles, diphtheria, pertussis, and Japanese encephalitis by immunizing millions of children.

According to the agencies, vaccines have saved nearly 154 million lives (more than three million a year) globally in the last 50 years alone, with more children now living to see their first birthday than at any other time in human history.

“Vietnam’s immunization program has been instrumental in saving children’s lives and alleviating the devastating impact of vaccine-preventable diseases on families, communities, and the country as a whole for over 40 years,” UNICEF Vietnam representative Rana Flowers remarked.

“Looking forward, we strongly encourage the government of Vietnam to sustain this tremendous achievement, so that every child has the opportunity to survive, thrive, and lead a healthy life.”

In Vietnam, vaccines covered by EPI are free for all children.

Immunization is safe and the most effective way to protect children against many preventable deadly diseases.

However, like many other countries, routine immunization services in Vietnam were disrupted during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Children who are not vaccinated are at an increased risk of serious illnesses that are easily prevented with a jab.

In addition, high numbers of unvaccinated children may result in outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases.

According to the UN agencies, these risks are threatening the gains achieved by Vietnam toward reducing child deaths over the past few decades.

It is important that accelerated efforts and bold action continue to be taken by the government to ensure that essential vaccines reach every child in a timely fashion – not only those who are due for vaccination, but also all those who have missed their inoculation in the last four years.

“Vietnam’s success in eliminating some, and dramatically reducing rates of other, vaccine-preventable diseases shows the power of vaccination,” said WHO representative in Vietnam Angela Pratt.

“Action to achieve these remarkable results has been spearheaded by the government and supported by strong cooperation from healthcare workers in even the remotest communes, local partners, community-based organizations, local leaders and communities, international development partners, donors, and scientists over many years.

“But some of these gains are currently at risk: we must act urgently to close existing immunity gaps and ensure that life-saving vaccines reach every child, in every corner of the country, today and into the future.”

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