Covid-19 is one of 10 infectious diseases that require vaccines

The Ministry of Health has just issued Circular No. 10/2024/TT-BYT on the list of infectious diseases, subjects and scope of mandatory use of vaccines and medical biological products (hereinafter referred to as Circular 10/2024), including Covid-19. The Circular takes effect from August 1, 2024.

According to Circular 10/2024, the list of infectious diseases, subjects required to use vaccines and vaccination schedules in the Expanded Immunization Program includes 11 diseases: hepatitis B, tuberculosis, diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus, polio, disease caused by Haemophilus influenzae type b (the main cause of disease in children under 5 years old, including: pneumonia, meningitis...), measles, Japanese encephalitis B, rubella, diarrhea caused by Rota virus.

According to the latest regulations, Covid-19 is one of 10 infectious diseases requiring mandatory vaccination, use of vaccines, and medical biological products.

According to the circular, if mandatory vaccines are not vaccinated on schedule or not fully vaccinated, they must be vaccinated as soon as possible, but must be suitable for the subject according to the instructions of the Ministry of Health and the manufacturer.

The vaccines to prevent the 11 infectious diseases mentioned above have a specific vaccination schedule for children from birth to 7 years old.

Tetanus vaccine is also indicated for pregnant women (in which, for those who have not been vaccinated, have not been vaccinated with 3 basic doses of tetanus-containing vaccines, or have an unknown vaccination history, they need to be vaccinated with 5 doses before, during pregnancy and in the next pregnancy), according to the instructions of medical staff.

Vaccines on this list are deployed nationwide for children and pregnant women in the Expanded Immunization Program. The Expanded Immunization Program is organized by the State and provides free vaccinations for mandatory vaccines used to prevent infectious diseases for children and pregnant women.

10 infectious diseases that require vaccines

Notably, in Circular 10/2024, the Ministry of Health stipulates a list of 10 infectious diseases and the mandatory use of vaccines and medical biological products for people at risk of contracting the disease in epidemic areas or traveling to epidemic areas.

In addition to the Covid-19 vaccine, there are 9 other diseases on this list: diphtheria, polio, whooping cough, rubella, measles, cholera, Japanese encephalitis B, rabies, and influenza.

The Ministry of Health said that the determination of subjects who must use vaccines and medical biological products is mandatory for people at risk of contracting infectious diseases in epidemic areas or traveling to epidemic areas on the list prescribed by the Department of Health submitted to the People's Committee of the province or city for decision or under the direction of the Ministry of Health based on the epidemic situation, conditions for supplying vaccines, medical biological products, and local resources.

According to the Ministry of Health's assessment, the Covid-19 epidemic situation in the world is unpredictable and difficult to predict with new sub-variants continuing to be recorded.

In November 2023, the World Health Organization (WHO) in Vietnam issued updated recommendations on priority groups for Covid-19 vaccination.

Based on the recommendations of the WHO's strategic advisory group of experts on immunization and the Ministry of Health's Vaccine Advisory Council, the Ministry of Health provides guidance on vaccination and booster vaccination of Covid-19 vaccine for the following 5 groups: health workers, people over 50 years old, people with underlying medical conditions, people over 18 years old who have not received any vaccination, and pregnant women.

Regarding the Covid-19 vaccine dose, the Ministry of Health instructs: if you have not received any dose, get one dose immediately. If you have received a dose, get one more dose at least 6 months after the previous dose, the vaccine is licensed for use by the Ministry of Health.

For pregnant women, inject 1 dose during each pregnancy and inject at any stage of pregnancy, preferably in the middle stage of pregnancy.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/tu-18-covid-19-thuoc-10-benh-truyen-nhiem-bat-buoc-su-dung-vac-xin-185240615162244551.htm