Health workers administer whooping cough vaccines to newborns at Ninh Bình Province's Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital. — VNA/VNS Photo Thuỳ Dung

HÀ NỘI — Millions of children in Việt Nam have been protected by immunisation over the past four decades, World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF offices in Việt Nam said in a statement released on Thursday to mark World Immunisation Week (April 24-30).

The number of children dying from vaccine-preventable causes in Việt Nam has reduced significantly since 1981, when the country introduced the national immunisation programme – the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) – to ensure every child in Việt Nam can receive the lifesaving protection of routine immunisations.

Since the beginning of the programme, Việt Nam has eradicated smallpox and polio, eliminated neonatal tetanus and dramatically reduced other vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles, diphtheria, pertussis and Japanese encephalitis, by vaccinating millions of children.

Vaccines are one of humanity’s greatest achievements. Globally, in the last 50 years alone, vaccines have saved nearly 154 million lives (more than 3 million a year) with more children now living to see their first birthday and beyond than at any other time in human history, according to the statement.

UNICEF Việt Nam Representative Rana Flowers said: "Việt Nam’s immunisation programme 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.

"Looking forward, we strongly encourage the Government of Việt Nam to sustain this tremendous achievement, so that every child has the opportunity to survive, thrive and lead a healthy life."

In Việt Nam, vaccines covered by the programme are free for all children.

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

However, much like many other nations, routine immunisation services in Việt Nam were disrupted during the COVID-19 pandemic. Children who missed their vaccinations face higher risk of serious illnesses that could have been easily avoided with a vaccine. It should also be noted that high numbers of unvaccinated children may lead to outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases.

These risks are threatening the gains achieved by Việt Nam towards reducing child deaths over the past few decades, UN agencies in Việt Nam highlighted, and stressing that 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 missed their vaccinations in the last four years.

WHO Representative in Việt Nam Dr Angela Pratt said, “Việt Nam’s success in eliminating some, and dramatically reducing rates of other, vaccine-preventable diseases shows the power of vaccination."

"Action to achieve these remarkable results has been spearheaded by the Government and supported by strong cooperation from health-care workers in even the remotest communes, local partners, community-based organisations, local leaders and communities, international development partners, donors and scientists over many years," she said.

"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,” the WHO official noted. — VNS