Vietnamese people live long but have few healthy years, why?

(Dan Tri) - According to experts, although the average life expectancy in Vietnam is quite high, about 2/3 of people aged 60 and over have at least one chronic disease.

Vietnamese people have a long life expectancy but low number of healthy years.

At the workshop "Orientation for developing vaccine courses in postgraduate training: Needs, trends and actions", recently organized by the University of Medicine and Pharmacy in Ho Chi Minh City, experts said that Vietnam is entering a period of rapid population aging, with about 12 million people aged 60 and over, and this number is expected to exceed 21 million people by 2035.

Although the average life expectancy in Vietnam is quite high (approximately 74 years old), healthy life expectancy is only about 65 years (meaning each person has 8-10 years living with illness).

The rate of chronic diseases is also increasing rapidly, becoming an urgent problem. It is estimated that about 2/3 of Vietnamese people aged 60 and over have at least one chronic disease.

Infectious diseases and infections are a major burden on the health system, society and economy . There are no specific statistics in Vietnam, but it is estimated that the US spends more than 26 billion USD on 4 types of diseases in adults: influenza, pneumococcus, whooping cough, and shingles each year.

To address the disease challenges associated with an aging population, experts recommend a comprehensive approach from treatment to prevention. Prevention strategies include promoting healthy lifestyles and screening and vaccination programs.

In fact, vaccination rates among adults are still low, and awareness of the importance of vaccination for adults is not high.

Medical staff vaccinate adults in Ho Chi Minh City (Photo: Hoang Le).

The causes often come from a lack of information about vaccine-preventable diseases, lack of advice about vaccination, and uncertainty about the safety and effectiveness of vaccines.

It is necessary to build a vaccine course for medical students.

Associate Professor Dr. Ngo Quoc Dat, Rector of Ho Chi Minh City University of Medicine and Pharmacy, said that currently, some countries in Europe and the United States have included vaccine courses in medical training programs, helping medical staff improve their knowledge, skills and confidence in consulting and practicing vaccination.

When properly trained, health care workers can deliver vaccinations more consistently and effectively, while encouraging people to take proactive measures to prevent disease.

“The development of a vaccine course for medical students at the postgraduate level is a practical initiative, contributing to strengthening the prevention foundation, helping to implement a lifelong vaccination program, meeting the need for health protection in an aging society,” said Mr. Dat.

Associate Professor, Dr. Ngo Quoc Dat, President of Ho Chi Minh City University of Medicine and Pharmacy, shared at the conference (Photo: Organizing Committee).

Professor Jonathan Van-Tam, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham (UK), shared that the value of vaccination for adults can bring benefits up to 19 times greater than the initial investment, if considering the entire economic and social value they create.

He hopes that the health sector will focus on preventive medicine, aiming to make vaccination one of the standards of sustainable health care, including focusing on the elderly and plans to prevent infectious diseases through vaccination.

Associate Professor, Dr. Phung Nguyen The Nguyen, Principal of the School of Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ho Chi Minh City, said that the accompaniment of domestic and foreign experts in the development of the unit's vaccine training program is an opportunity for students and postgraduates to access updated knowledge according to world standards.

This not only contributes to improving the quality of training but also inspires future generations of doctors, in the mission of protecting and caring for people's health.

In the afternoon workshop session with the topic "Flexible Thinking and Professional Development in the AI ​​& VUCA Era", experts from Ho Chi Minh City University of Medicine and Pharmacy and international experts continued to share about the current state of the healthcare system and the need for healthcare staff capacity in the era of population aging and AI.

At the same time, aiming at healthcare for the elderly, on November 11, Ho Chi Minh City University of Medicine and Pharmacy also organized a workshop on "Effective vaccination strategies for an aging world", with hundreds of family doctors and experts attending.

The workshop updated guidelines from international medical associations on adult vaccination.

Dr. Nguyen Hong Tam, Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Center for Disease Control (HCDC), said that the vaccination program for children in Vietnam has achieved many important successes, contributing to the effective control of infectious diseases.

However, vaccination for adults - especially the elderly and those with underlying medical conditions - is still relatively new.

Dr. Nguyen Ngoc Thuy Duong, Deputy Director of the HCDC, warned that the burden of disease is increasing, as the elderly and people with underlying diseases face age-related immune system decline along with barriers of cost, lack of information, and concerns about side effects after vaccination.

The HCDC leader emphasized that there needs to be a consistent voice throughout the health sector to effectively vaccinate the elderly and people with underlying medical conditions, aiming to create the most comprehensive shield for the health of people of all ages.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/suc-khoe/nguoi-viet-song-tho-nhung-it-nam-song-khoe-vi-sao-20251111141851359.htm