All children entering preschool and primary school are checked for vaccination history in the expanded immunization program, and given catch-up shots if needed to ensure immunity.
Vietnam is implementing a comprehensive health history check and vaccination for school-age children as part of its lifelong immunization strategy. This is the first time Vietnam has reviewed vaccination and catch-up vaccination for school-age children nationwide. This activity is being implemented step by step and expanded over the years, according to the National Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI).
In 2023, review 12 provinces of 4 regions, including Hai Phong, Thanh Hoa, Tuyen Quang, Thai Nguyen, Quang Nam, Quang Tri, Dak Lak, Dak Nong, Gia Lai, Lam Dong, Kien Giang, Can Tho. In 2024, expand to 30% of provinces and cities and deploy nationwide from 2025.
Children must be fully vaccinated against all diseases in the EPI, including hepatitis B, tuberculosis, diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus, polio, Hib pneumonia/meningitis, measles, rubella, and Japanese encephalitis. Vaccine names may vary depending on the type and manufacturer.
To check, the school provides the child's vaccination book or vaccination certificate, or personal vaccination card to the health station. Staff at the health station updates the information on the system and makes a list of students who have not been fully vaccinated or have not been vaccinated with the vaccines in the EPI. From there, the health station makes a list of children registered for vaccination by class. Teachers inform parents about the child's vaccination status and register the form of vaccination.
When parents agree to give their children the missed vaccine injections, the health station will coordinate with the school to organize the injections.
This procedure is similar to what some countries have implemented. For example, in Thailand, when children enter first grade, parents provide the "Maternal and Child Health Handbook" to the school. If there is no book, parents must get the child's vaccination history at the vaccination site, or local health workers ask parents to recall it. Health workers make copies of the child's vaccination records. The school coordinates with local health workers to check the vaccination records and advise parents to have their children vaccinated with the missing doses. After the child is vaccinated, the original pink book and the system are updated.
A child in Hanoi receives a vaccine injection. Photo: Giang Huy
Associate Professor Duong Thi Hong, Deputy Director of the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, assessed that school vaccination is an opportunity to reach children who have not completed the vaccinations in the EPI (including hard-to-reach groups and mobile children). This activity helps increase the rate of immunity coverage for vaccine-preventable diseases, preventing disease outbreaks in schools.
The World Health Organization and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend reviewing school vaccinations. To date, many countries have successfully implemented them, such as the US, Canada, South Korea, Japan, Singapore, China, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, etc.
In Vietnam, the annual vaccination rate is from 90% to 95% or more for each type of vaccine. For every 100 children, there will be 5-10 children who have not been vaccinated or have not received enough doses of vaccines to prevent dangerous infectious diseases. The number of children with immune deficiencies will accumulate over the years into a large enough group, leading to the risk of spreading dangerous infectious diseases. Therefore, screening and compensating children at school helps reduce the number of children who are missed, prevent outbreaks in schools and ensure children's health.
Le Nga
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