Health

Rota vaccine campaign launched

Titled 'Protect Your Baby from the First Steps', the campaign, jointly launched by UNICEF Vietnam and the Ministry of Health, seeks to enhance public awareness, particularly among parents, of the crucial role of the Rota vaccine in preventing acute diarrhoea caused by the Rotavirus.

A child gets vaccinated with a dose of the Rota vaccine at a Vietnam Vaccine Joint Stock Company (VNVC) vaccination centre. (Photo: courtesy of VNVC)
A child gets vaccinated with a dose of the Rota vaccine at a Vietnam Vaccine Joint Stock Company (VNVC) vaccination centre. (Photo: courtesy of VNVC)


Hanoi (VNS/VNA) - UNICEF Vietnam and the Ministry of Health have launched a campaign urging parents to vaccinate their children with two complete doses of the Rota vaccine before six months of age.

Titled 'Protect Your Baby from the First Steps', the campaign seeks to enhance public awareness, particularly among parents, of the crucial role of the Rota vaccine in preventing acute diarrhoea caused by the Rotavirus.

Rotavirus-induced acute diarrhoea is a highly contagious gastrointestinal infection that can be life-threatening for children. In Vietnam, Rotavirus accounted for 20 to over 50% of acute diarrhoea cases in young children between 2016 and 2023. Every year, hundreds of thousands of children require hospitalisation, with thousands needing emergency care.

This situation places immense pressure on the healthcare system, imposes financial burdens on families and hampers children's healthy development, especially in remote and disadvantaged areas with limited vaccine access.

The Rota vaccine has demonstrated exceptional efficacy in preventing diarrhoea caused by Rotavirus. Studies show it is 85-98% effective in preventing severe diarrhoea and 74-87% effective for all cases of acute diarrhoea within the first year of administration.

Successfully implemented in over 120 countries, the vaccine has significantly reduced child mortality and hospitalisation rates. Currently, Vietnam-produced Rota vaccines ensure a sufficient supply for the national expanded programme on immunisation.

A ministerial decision issued last year mandated the inclusion of this vaccine in the expanded immunisation programme. Since 2024, the initiative has provided free vaccinations to children in 32 economically disadvantaged and mountainous provinces. As part of a phased expansion aligned with Government resolutions, the programme will extend to nine additional localities this year and achieve nationwide coverage by 2026.

The 'Protect Your Baby from the First Steps' campaign reinforces the importance of vaccinating children with two complete doses of the Rota vaccine before six months of age to prevent acute diarrhoea and support healthy growth.

Campaign messages will be disseminated through television and radio programmes, articles and social media activities, including materials written in multiple ethnic languages and videos in sign language./.

VNA
#UNICEF Vietnam #Rota vaccine #VietnamPlus #Vietnam News Agency #Vietnam
Follow VietnamPlus

Related News

Vaccine inoculation for a baby (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Vietnam secures over 1 million doses of measles vaccine

The Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the World Health Organisation (WHO) and UNICEF, on August 22 launched a campaign to provide 1,134,200 doses of vaccine against measles, funded by the Australian Government, for Vietnamese children in 2024, given the risk of a measles outbreak in the world, including Vietnam.

See more

From 2026, all residents in Ho Chi Minh City will receive periodic health check-ups or screening at least once a year under a roadmap. Illustrative image. (Photo: VNA)

Ho Chi Minh City to offer annual health check-ups for residents

In the initial phase in 2026, priority will be given to children under 24 months old, students, out-of-school minors, contracted employees, probationary workers, apprentices, public officials, members of the armed forces, social protection beneficiaries and people aged 60 and above.

Patients register at the reception desk upon arrival for medical examination. (Photo: VNA)

Ho Chi Minh City targets free basic hospital fees for residents by 2030

Under the programme, the southern largest economic hub has set several key health targets to be achieved by 2030. The average height of children and adolescents under 18 is expected to increase by at least 1.5cm, while the average life expectancy of residents is projected to reach around 77 years, including at least 68 years of healthy living.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Laos Nguyen Minh Tam extends greetings to leaders and staff of the Hanoi – Vientiane General Hospital on the occasion of the 71st anniversary of the Vietnamese Doctors’ Day on February 27. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnamese doctors in Laos help foster bilateral solidarity

Commending the Hanoi – Vientiane General Hospital’s 13-year development, Ambassador Nguyen Minh Tam noted that prioritising conscience and virtue has helped it build a strong reputation among Lao citizens, the Vietnamese community and international friends in Laos.

Organ transplantation at the University Medical Centre Ho Chi Minh City (Photo: the University Medical Centre Ho Chi Minh City)

Professional excellence, dedication define Vietnam’s healthcare system

When patients pull through from the brink of death, when their vital signs stabilise and transplanted hearts begin beating strongly in new bodies, the joy shared by the entire medical team is overwhelming. And when the country welcomes the New Year, saving lives takes on an even more profound significance — offering patients and their families a new spring of hope.

At Phu Rieng communal medical station in Dong Nai province (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam fosters maternal and child healthcare, advances toward 2035 goals

The under-five mortality rate in Vietnam in 2025 was estimated at below 16 per 1,000 live births, more than three times lower than the 1990 level. The infant mortality rate (under one year) declined fourfold to below 11 per 1,000, while the neonatal mortality rate dropped fivefold, from 44 per 1,000 in 1990 to 8.8 per 1,000 in 2025.

Medicine support programmes provide significant benefits to patients throughout their course of treatment. (Photo: VNA)

Over 6,000 patients receive free medicines

The schemes focus primarily on cancer, rare diseases and severe chronic conditions, areas where treatment costs are high and often require expensive biological and originator drugs.

A lung transplant surgery at the National Lung Hospital (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam reaches new height in organ transplantation

From demanding cross-country transplants to highly specialised procedures nearing regional and international standards, the sector has created new chances of survival for thousands of patients. However, persistent bottlenecks in organ donation and the legal framework highlight the urgent need to further perfect the national donation–transplantation system. In the era of advanced medicine, progress is measured not only by surgical mastery, but also by the ability to turn loss into hope and sustain life.

The DAV asks pharmacy producers and distributors to increase medicine supply capacity during Tet to meet increasing demand (Photo: VNA)

Measures rolled out to ensure adequate medicine supply during Tet

Accordingly, provincial and municipal health departments are required to direct hospitals, centres for disease control and health care facilities to urgently develop plans and carry out medicine procurement to ensure sufficient supply, absolutely avoiding shortages. Medicines must meet quality standards and be sold at reasonable prices, with no sudden price increases allowed.

Military doctors conduct ultrasound examinations for residents in Dong Dang town, Cao Loc district, Lang Son province. (Photo: VNA)

Resolution 72 opens path to a modern, sustainable healthcare system

To build a resilient healthcare system capable of meeting the challenges of ageing, emerging diseases and rising expectations for quality care, Vietnam must continue to strengthen primary and preventive care, invest in human resources, accelerate digitalisation and big data development, and refine healthcare financing mechanisms.