Rotavirus vaccine helps protect children from diarrhea from the very beginning of life

On March 20, many children in Khe Mo commune, Dong Hy district, Thai Nguyen province, received free Rota vaccine.

On March 20, many children in Khe Mo commune, Dong Hy district, Thai Nguyen province, received free Rota vaccine.

This is part of an effort to protect public health, helping children prevent acute diarrhea caused by Rota virus - the main cause of diarrhea in children, which can lead to death if not treated promptly.

Children in Khe Mo are protected by Rota vaccine.

Children aged 2 to 6 months in Khe Mo commune, in addition to being cared for with boundless love by their parents, are now also protected by an essential vaccine.

When reporters arrived at Khe Mo Commune Health Station, the first thing they felt was the hard work but enthusiasm of the doctors and medical staff.

According to Dr. Vo Thi Manh Thuy, Deputy Head of Khe Mo Commune Health Station, immediately after receiving the vaccines, the station carried out preservation and propaganda work through the radio system, helping people in 13 villages know about the free vaccination program. In just a few months, the program has received enthusiastic response from the people, with 20 children receiving vaccines each month since January 2025.

Mr. Hoang Anh, Director of the Thai Nguyen Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), shared that Thai Nguyen province has about 110 communes in ethnic minority and mountainous areas, where many families do not have access to vaccines. The inclusion of Rota vaccine in the free Expanded Immunization Program is a great opportunity to help children prevent acute diarrhea caused by Rota virus.

Since the fourth quarter of 2024, Thai Nguyen has become one of the pioneering provinces to deploy Rota vaccines for children. To date, more than 2,400 children have been vaccinated, of which more than 1,200 have completed 2 doses.

"The Rota vaccine deployment process has been safe, with no cases requiring special attention. We will continue to deploy the vaccine to about 17,000 children each year, with the goal of reaching over 96% of children receiving this vaccine," said Mr. Hoang Anh.

Rotavirus vaccine has been recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) for widespread use in many countries and is an effective preventive solution to help protect children from acute diarrhea. However, implementing the program in remote areas of Dong Hy district has also encountered many difficulties.

Rotavirus vaccine has been recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) for widespread use in many countries.

Doctor Vo Thi Manh Thuy, Deputy Head of Khe Mo Commune Health Station, could not hide her concerns about mobilizing people, especially in remote areas, to accept giving their children vaccines.

Concerns about side effects and a lack of information have made some families hesitant. Furthermore, difficult transportation, especially in mountainous communes, is also a major challenge. Many families have to travel dozens of kilometers to take their children to vaccination sites.

However, the local authorities and doctors at the health stations never gave up. Through close propaganda measures, parents gradually understood the importance of vaccines and gradually, their trust in the program was strengthened. Although difficulties still existed, the connection between the functional forces and the community created a great strength, helping the free Rota vaccine program in Dong Hy district continue to achieve good results.

Many parents shared that, despite difficult living conditions, they were very satisfied and felt secure when vaccines and medical services were provided free of charge.

Rotavirus, one of the main causes of acute diarrhea in children, has caused dangerous complications and can lead to death if not treated promptly.

Rotavirus vaccines, made from weakened viruses, are an effective preventative measure. International studies have shown that rotavirus vaccines are highly effective in preventing the disease, reducing hospitalizations and deaths.

The free implementation of Rota vaccine in the Expanded Immunization Program from 2024 is a big step forward in protecting public health, especially children. In Vietnam, the program has brought great hope to families in difficult areas.

In Vietnam, Rotavirus is the cause of acute diarrhea in 20% to over 50% of young children in the period 2016-2023. Every year, it is estimated that hundreds of thousands of children are hospitalized and thousands of children need emergency care due to Rotavirus, causing significant pressure on the health system, financial burden on families as well as affecting the healthy development of children in the early stages of life, especially in remote areas, localities that do not have access to vaccines in vaccination services.

UNICEF, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, launched the communication campaign "Protecting babies from the first steps", to raise awareness among the community, parents and caregivers of the important role of Rota vaccine in preventing acute viral diarrhea.

Accordingly, the campaign "Protecting babies from the first steps" encourages parents and caregivers to take their children to get 2 doses of Rota vaccine when they are 2 months old and before 6 months old so that they are best protected, have a healthy start and develop comprehensively.

Source: https://baodautu.vn/vac-xin-rota-giup-bao-ve-tre-em-khoi-benh-tieu-chay-tu-nhung-buoc-dau-doi-d256849.html