Illustrative image. VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — Việt Nam will use four more vaccines in the Expanded Immunisation Programme for the 2021-2030 period to increase the diversity of inoculations.

According to the proposal by the Ministry of Health, which has been agreed by the Government, the vaccine against Rotavirus will be included in the program from 2022, a vaccine against pneumococcal disease in 2025, a vaccine against cervical cancer in 2026, and a vaccine against seasonal flu from 2030.

Resolution No. 104 clearly states the scope and number of beneficiaries as proposed by the Ministry of Health. In the case of mobilising domestic aid and support, or supplementing with the state budget, the Ministry may decide whether this roadmap can be implemented sooner.

The Government has agreed to allow provinces and cities capable of balancing their local budgets to purchase vaccines against cervical cancer if they can access preferential prices for high-risk groups in addition to the program from 2022 to 2025 to encourage more people to get vaccinated.

The State Budget ensures funding to buy vaccines according to the plan. The local budget should allocate funds to organise the implementation of vaccination in the locality in addition to aid, sponsorship, support of domestic and foreign organisations and individuals, and other lawful capital sources or voluntary payment from organisations and individuals.

The Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Planning and Investment shall arrange funds to buy vaccines according to the schedule in the Expanded Immunisation Programme, people's committees in provinces and cities can use local budgets to purchase licensed vaccines and organise vaccination rollouts.

Municipal and provincial people's committees that are capable of balancing local budgets will coordinate with the Ministry of Health or domestic and foreign organisations and individuals to purchase cervical cancer vaccines licensed by the Ministry of Health for immunisation of high-risk groups in addition to the vaccines available in the expanded immunisation programme. 

According to the health ministry, every year there are 600,000 to a million cases of seasonal flu. Meanwhile, cervical cancer is one of the ten types of cancer with the highest rate of fatalities in Việt Nam, especially among women aged 15 to 44. VNS