Vietnam Ministry of Health urges improved vaccination coverage

Vietnam's Ministry of Health has issued directives to address declining vaccination rates and strengthen disease prevention efforts across the country.

Regarding human health, the Department of Preventive Medicine is urging local authorities to enhance communication and exposure monitoring to prevent rabies deaths. This initiative aligns with the upcoming World Rabies Day to encourage proactive medical treatment following animal bites.

Furthermore, the Ministry reported that many provinces are at risk of failing to meet targets for the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) for 2026. Reports indicate that several vaccines, including those for tuberculosis, hepatitis B, polio, and rotavirus, are seeing progress rates below the required thresholds in a majority of surveyed provinces.

In the agricultural sector, Cao Bang province has administered over 388,000 vaccine doses to livestock and poultry to combat diseases such as foot-and-mouth, hemorrhagic septicemia, and rabies. Local authorities are also conducting disinfection efforts in high-risk areas to control potential outbreaks.