Why are many localities "thirsty" for vaccines for young children?

Regarding the information about the shortage of many types of vaccines in the Expanded Immunization Program in many localities, a representative of the Ministry of Health responded at a press meeting on the afternoon of December 15.

Nearly 500,000 doses of "5 in 1" vaccine arrive in Vietnam tonight

Associate Professor, Dr. Duong Thi Hong, Deputy Director of the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, said that there is a shortage of the "5 in 1" vaccine from February 2023 and the DPT-VGB-Hib vaccine to prevent 3 diseases: diphtheria, whooping cough, and tetanus from April 2023.

To protect children from infectious diseases, the Ministry of Health has mobilized sponsors and since July 2023, Vietnam has received funding from the United Nations for more than 258,000 doses of vaccines and has promptly distributed them in September and October.

Tonight (November 15), 490,600 doses of the "5 in 1" vaccine sponsored by the Australian Government through the United Nations Children's Fund UNICEF will arrive in Vietnam. The Ministry of Health has directed relevant units to carry out procedures for receiving and inspecting vaccines distributed to 63 provinces and cities to organize vaccination.

In 2023, many places lack Expanded Immunization Program vaccines for young children.

Explaining the reason for the recent vaccine shortage, Ms. Hong said that in the period of 2016-2022, the expanded vaccination program was allocated funding to purchase vaccines from the Health - Population Target Program (CTMT) for the period of 2016-2020. In addition to the source of vaccine purchases under the Project's activities, vaccines were supported by the GAVI Organization and other foreign aid organizations.

In recent years, resource support from GAVI and international organizations has shifted in support methods because Vietnam is not on the list of low-income, economically underdeveloped countries, and some types of aid vaccines need to be matched after receiving them.

In 2023, implementing the Budget Law, localities must carry out procedures for purchasing vaccines from local budgets. However, there are difficulties in arranging and approving funding, problems with bidding procedures, price approval as well as implementation experience...

In response to practical requirements, the Ministry of Health has coordinated with the Ministry of Finance to report to the Government and the Prime Minister to issue a resolution allocating funds for the Ministry of Health to centrally purchase vaccines, and submit to the Government a decree amending Decree No. 104 in the direction of allocating central funding to purchase vaccines.

Along with legal solutions, the Ministry of Health directs units and localities to coordinate with relevant ministries and branches to promote cooperation, propose support and aid to domestic and foreign international organizations to supply vaccines in the expanded immunization program.

Nearly completed purchasing domestic ordered vaccines

Responding to the question of whether there will still be a shortage of vaccines in 2024, Dr. Duong Duc Thien, Deputy Director of the Department of Finance, Ministry of Health, said that to solve the problem fundamentally and long-term, the Ministry of Health is coordinating with relevant ministries and branches to consult on amending Decree No. 104 of the Government regulating vaccination activities, which allows the allocation of the central budget to ensure funding for purchasing vaccines for the expanded vaccination program.

For vaccines that can be produced domestically (10 types of vaccines), the Ministry of Health has reviewed legal regulations and implemented purchasing by ordering (a 9-step process). The Ministry of Health has appraised and sent the maximum price plan to the Ministry of Finance for consideration and approval, on the basis of which the Ministry of Health will approve the specific price plan. The Ministry of Health is working closely with the Ministry of Finance to resolve this.

It is expected that in January 2024, the procurement of domestically ordered vaccines (10 types) will be completed according to the number of provinces and cities proposing the demand by June 2024, thereby ensuring the supply of vaccines in 2024 in the Expanded Immunization Program, meeting the current needs of the people as well as following the direction of the Government, complying with the provisions of current laws.

If the budget is allocated earlier, the Ministry of Health will soon place orders or bid to purchase vaccines for the Expanded Immunization Program in accordance with the law.

In the coming time, the Ministry of Health will also review vaccine sources, actively work with domestic and foreign sponsors to support resources for the Expanded Immunization Program and direct localities to be proactive in monitoring, detecting epidemics and responding, implementing measures on vaccination for high-risk subjects in the epidemic area to contain and prevent the disease from spreading...

Source: https://www.baogiaothong.vn/vi-sao-nhieu-dia-phuong-khat-vac-xin-cho-tre-nho-192231215165900697.htm