Promote vaccination against diseases.

In recent years, the disease situation has become increasingly complex. Alongside the annual infectious diseases, new and dangerous epidemics have emerged. In 2023, the prolonged shortage of several vaccines, such as the 5-in-1 vaccine (DPT-VGB-HIB), DPT, measles, and polio vaccine (OPV), led to the risk of outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases. In early 2024, when the Lao Cai health sector received vaccines from the Central Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, they distributed them to localities to implement the expanded immunization program, ensuring proactive disease prevention for children.

In Bao Thang district, there are currently 102 vaccination points, including 14 fixed points at health stations, 87 mobile vaccination points, and 1 point for administering the hepatitis B vaccine to newborns within 24 hours of birth and the tuberculosis vaccine at the District General Hospital. The Bao Thang District Health Center has identified vaccination as a key priority and set specific goals, including the target of 95% or more of children under 1 year old receiving full vaccination against 8 infectious diseases (tuberculosis, diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, hepatitis B, Hib meningitis, polio, and measles).

Currently, Bao Thang District Health Center has received over 27,000 doses of vaccine from the Provincial Center for Disease Control. Vaccination activities in Bao Thang district are maintained 12/12 months a year, with two vaccination rounds per month. Round 1 is carried out from the 3rd to the 7th of each month. Round 2 involves administering the second dose of the Japanese encephalitis vaccine to children who have already received the first dose, and catching up on vaccinations for those who did not attend previous vaccination plans and rounds. Round 2 is held 7 to 14 days after Round 1. As of March 2024, health units in the district have completed vaccinations for 207 children under 1 year old, including measles-rubella vaccinations for 323 children and DPT vaccinations for 482 children…

To improve the quality of vaccination services and ensure safe vaccination, we have planned to organize training for healthcare workers specializing in vaccination, staff involved in vaccination work at health stations and hospitals, and staff in charge of vaccination services at the Health Center. Communication about the benefits of vaccination has also been intensified through various channels, spreading awareness so that people proactively bring their children for all necessary vaccinations on schedule.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh Huyen, Director of Bao Thang District Health Center.

In some mountainous areas, the expanded immunization program faces difficulties due to limited public awareness and a lack of understanding of the benefits of vaccination, leading to a reluctance to bring children to vaccination sites. Therefore, health station staff regularly conduct direct communication, visit households, and provide advice and reminders about vaccination schedules through the village health network and community health workers.

To ensure safety in vaccination, the health sector is strengthening inspection and supervision before, during, and after vaccination; monitoring the import, export, storage, transportation, and use of vaccines; the vaccination rate and progress at all levels; and managing vaccination information on the National Immunization Information System. Monthly, when communes and towns organize vaccinations, officials from the district/town health center will visit to supervise the vaccination stations at least once a month for 12 months.

Vaccination is the most effective preventive measure to reduce the incidence and mortality rates of infectious diseases. Priority groups for vaccination include children, women of childbearing age, women planning to become pregnant within the next four months, pregnant women, adults with chronic diseases, and all individuals at risk of exposure to infectious diseases, including families with a history of hepatitis B.

The health sector is striving to implement safe and convenient vaccination programs, therefore people should also proactively get vaccinated, bringing their children to vaccination sites to be protected against dangerous infectious diseases that can be prevented by vaccines.

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