Ministry of Health ensures sufficient supply of vaccines

July 03, 2018 - 11:07

The Drug Administration under the Ministry of Health has asked local health departments, vaccination centres, and vaccine producers and traders to ensure a sufficient supply of vaccines nationwide.

A baby is vaccinated at the Pasteur Institute in HCM City. — VNA/VNS Photo Phương Vy
Viet Nam News

HCM CITYThe Drug Administration under the Ministry of Health has asked local health departments, vaccination centres, and vaccine producers and traders to ensure a sufficient supply of vaccines nationwide.

Đỗ Văn Đông, deputy head of the Drug Administration, said the production, import and supply of vaccines for the national expanded immunisation programme was generally sufficient but that a shortage could occur in some situations.

Vaccine importers at times have had shortages because of epidemic outbreaks, leading to a mismatch between supply and demand, he said.

Available vaccines in the country include five-in-one combination vaccines, and vaccines against tuberculosis, hepatitis B, polio, Japanese encephalitis, typhoid and tetanus.

The Drug Administration urged local vaccine manufacturing facilities to increase production and work with foreign producers to transfer advanced technologies so that volume and quality could be maintained. VNS

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