Simultaneously implement the second phase of vitamin A administration in 2025

SKĐS - The second Vitamin A supplementation campaign in 2025 will be implemented for children from 6 months to under 36 months old starting from December 1 to 2, 2025. In addition, the Campaign will also be implemented for children from 6 months to under 60 months old.

Children at risk of vitamin A deficiency are children with one of the following conditions: prolonged diarrhea, acute respiratory infections, severe malnutrition...

Nearly 340,000 children received Vitamin A in the second campaign in Hanoi

For 2 days (from December 1-2), Hanoi organized the second high-dose Vitamin A supplementation campaign in 2025 for nearly 340,000 children from 6 to under 36 months old at more than 3,000 drinking points across the area.

The city's health sector has arranged 3,037 drinking points in communes, wards and towns to ensure that all children of all ages have access to the service.

About 339,392 children aged 6 months to under 36 months participated in Vitamin A supplementation campaign phase 2/2025, held on December 1-2. Of these, 57,750 children were in the 6-12 month age group and 281,642 children were from 12 to under 36 months old.

According to the Hanoi Department of Health, the campaign's goal is to reach over 99.8% of children receiving high doses of Vitamin A, thereby preventing the risk of micronutrient deficiencies, protecting vision and strengthening children's immunity during the important stages of development. Before, during and after the campaign, communication activities were deployed synchronously to raise parents' awareness of the benefits of Vitamin A, a reasonable diet, and preventing malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies in children, pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers.

Children given high doses of Vitamin A

In the first phase of 2025, held on June 1-2, Hanoi implemented Vitamin A supplementation combined with deworming at more than 1,600 drinking points, with nearly 387,000 children receiving high doses of Vitamin A. At the same time, the health sector also carried out weighing and measuring to assess the nutritional status of children under 5 years old. By the end of October 2025, the rate of underweight malnutrition in children under 5 years old in Hanoi was 6.4%, stunting 9.6%, acute malnutrition 0.2%, and overweight and obesity 1% - figures showing that micronutrient supplementation is still an important and urgent need.

The Vitamin A supplementation campaign is maintained regularly in June and December every year, contributing significantly to the prevention of malnutrition and protecting the health of young children. With a scale of nearly 340,000 children in the second phase of 2025, the Hanoi Health sector expects to continue to achieve a high coverage rate, ensuring that all children of all ages benefit from the micronutrients necessary for growth and development.

People at high risk of Vitamin A deficiency

People at high risk of Vitamin A deficiency include:

- Children and people with measles.

- Children from 0 to under 72 months old with severe acute malnutrition.

- Children from 6 months to under 60 months old with prolonged diarrhea or acute respiratory infection (diagnosed at a medical facility).

Children from 6 months to under 12 months of age need vitamin A supplements.

The Vitamin A supplementation campaign aims to sustainably eliminate xerophthalmia due to Vitamin A deficiency in children; contribute to reducing the rate of malnutrition, and enhance physical and mental development in children.

Vitamin A is a fat-soluble micronutrient that plays an essential role in children's physical development and immune system. Vitamin A participates in the process of cell division, supporting children's normal growth and development; plays a role in the ability of the eyes to see, especially in low light conditions; helps protect the integrity of the skin, eye mucosa, tracheal mucosa, small intestine and excretory glands. Vitamin A also contributes to increasing resistance, helping children fight many infectious diseases such as measles, diarrhea, respiratory infections, tuberculosis and tetanus.

Natural sources of Vitamin A are abundant in breast milk, foods of animal origin such as liver, meat, fish, eggs, milk; and in green, yellow, and dark red vegetables and fruits such as carrots, pumpkin, broccoli, papaya, mango, and gac fruit. However, for children aged 6–36 months, high-dose Vitamin A supplementation according to the Ministry of Health program is still maintained annually to prevent micronutrient deficiencies – one of the causes of slow growth and susceptibility to infections.

During the campaign, the health sector reminded parents not to give their children Vitamin A if they have a high fever above 38.5°C, have a stomachache, or suffer from chronic diseases such as mental illness, heart, liver, or kidney failure, bronchial asthma, or have a history of allergies to the drug ingredients. Health screening before taking the drug is strictly carried out to ensure the safety of all children participating in the campaign.

According to the 2011 recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO) on Vitamin A supplementation for children from 6 months to under 36 months old as follows:

- Children from 6 months to under 12 months old: Take 1 tablet of 100,000 IU at a time, single dose, every 4-6 months.

- Children from 12 months to under 36 months old: Take 1 tablet of 200,000 IU at a time, single dose every 4-6 months.

Source: https://suckhoedoisong.vn/dong-loat-trien-khai-uong-vitamin-a-dot-2-nam-2025-169251201142533088.htm