WHO praises Vietnam for maintaining high vaccination coverage

Vietnam has maintained the vaccination coverage of over 95% for children under one year old.

Dr. Satoko Otsu from the WHO Representative Office in Vietnam has expressed his appreciation for the vaccination coverage in Vietnam as the country has maintained vaccination coverage of over 95% for children under one year old.

The WHO official made the remarks at the meeting held by the Ministry of Health in Buon Ma Thuot city, Dak Lak province, on June 15, in response to the National Immunisation Week 2018.

Dr. Satoko Otsu also expressed her delight at Vietnam's considerable achievements in protecting children from diseases through the expanded immunisation programme.

She noted that WHO is committed to working with Vietnam in order to reduce child mortality rates and to achieve the goal of 100% of the population being vaccinated for active immunisation.

Speaking at the ceremony, Deputy Minister of Health, Nguyen Thanh Long, affirmed the importance of vaccinations for public health and called for parents to have their children vaccinated.

He also asked for joint efforts to ensure the national vaccination coverage of over 95%, particularly in mountainous, remote and disadvantaged regions. Meanwhile, medical establishments should actively update the information on the national vaccination management system to better monitor vaccination records and ensure that the people are fully vaccinated as scheduled.

Vietnam has implemented the expanded immunisation programme since 1985 and eliminated paralysis in 2000 and neonatal tetanus in 2005.