Vaccination key to achieving MDGs

The National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology's director, Nguyen Tran Hien, spoke to Suc khoe & Doi song (Health and Life) newspaper about the National Expanded Programme on Immunisation.
The National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology's director, NguyenTran Hien, spoke to Suc khoe & Doi song (Health and Life) newspaperabout the National Expanded Programme on Immunisation.

* Can you describe the results of vaccine implementation in the National Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) ?

Vaccines are an effective tool for preventing transmittable diseases.Unlike other treatments, vaccines help protect people from diseases andcreate healthy generations. Currently, around 30 infectious diseases canbe prevented by vaccines.

Vaccines have also helped reduceillness, treatment periods, disability, loss of working ability andmental or physical development for children. Vaccination is seen as keyfor achieving the Millennium Development Goals. Investment invaccinations is an investment in the future.

Thanks to the EPI,the rate of infectious diseases has been reduced dramatically year byyear. From 1985 to 2013, around 6.7 million children have been preventedfrom contracting harmful diseases and 43,000 children have successfullyrecovered from suffering diseases that could be prevented by vaccines;such as tuberculosis, polio, tetanus, pertussis and hepatitis B.

* Which new vaccines will be used in the EPI in future?

According to the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation (GAVI),around 5 million children have been saved from hepatitis B andhaemophilus influenza Type B related fatalities because of vaccinationprogrammes in developing countries. New vaccines, including thoseagainst rubella, yellow fever and Rota-virus diarrhoea will be added toimmunisation programmes in countries aiming to save the lives of 4.2million children worldwide by 2015.

Vietnam is making plans torequest GAVI to help add new vaccines to the EPI in coming years. A GAVIfunded combined vaccine against measles and rubella will be vaccinatedfor children under the EPI in 2014.

* Can you outline the target for eliminating measles?

Measles infections were reduced by 152 times from nearly 88,000 casesin 1984 to 578 cases in 2012. No measles fatalities have been reportedsince 2003. Vietnam, along with 32 other countries in the region, arecollecting information on the elimination of the disease.

Thecriteria for eliminating measles are having no measles outbreak orhaving the disease spread within three years, as well as keeping theinfection rate under 1 per 1 million. Starting the process ofeliminating measles in Vietnam would be a milestone in the country'sintegration into the region.

In order to eliminate measles, twodoses of vaccines should be regularly given to over 95 per cent ofchildren aged 9 months and 18 months nationwide. In fact, combinedmeasles and rubella vaccines will be given to around 23 million childrenaged between 9 months and 14 years old, with support from GAVI, in2014. The measles vaccine will be administered to high-risk subjectswhile measles supervision will be strengthened by medical units andhospitals.

We would also need to mobilise the support of theParty, Government and local authorities, the health sector and financialand technical support from local and international organisations formeasles elimination.

* What are the difficulties facing these EPI activities?

The programme has faced challenges in maintaining vaccination ratesabove 95 percent and ensuring vaccine quality. Wild polio that stillremains in some areas of the world is also a risk for Vietnam.

Many others risks, such as difficult access to those living inmountainous and remote areas, high home-birth rates and poor hygieneconditions, immigration and globalisation, impact the EPI resultsachieved so far.

The EPI needs to make use of the best humanresources from central to local levels, providing training and technicalsupervision support. The yearly increase from the State budget has metthe country's demand requiring big investment for new and safervaccines, including rubella, rotavirus and cervical vaccines.

The declining trend of international assistance to Vietnam due to thecountry becoming a middle-income country has also presented somedifficulties.-VNA

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