According to the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health , for many years, the supply of vaccines under the Expanded Immunization Program (EIP) has been handled by the Central Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology (National EIP Program).
However, since 2022, the supply of vaccines under the Expanded Immunization Program has been disrupted due to changes in the vaccine procurement mechanism following the end of the National Target Program on Health and Population. This has interrupted the supply of some vaccines under the Expanded Immunization Program in the city for a certain period, including measles, diphtheria-pertussis-tetanus, and 5-in-1 vaccines.
In this context, from August 15th, the City's Health Department received 12,400 doses of the 5-in-1 vaccine allocated by the Ministry of Health from support sources of the World Health Organization and UNICEF.
After the vaccination program for children was implemented according to regulations, as of October 10th, there were fewer than 3,000 doses of vaccine remaining, and it is expected to run out within the next two weeks.
The number of vaccines available for the Expanded Immunization Program in Ho Chi Minh City is running low.
To address the difficulties in supplying vaccines under the Expanded Immunization Program nationwide, on July 10, 2023, the Prime Minister issued Resolution 98/NQ-CP on the allocation of central government budget for 2023 and assigned the Ministry of Health to purchase vaccines under the Expanded Immunization Program in accordance with regulations.
Accordingly, the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology is making efforts to resume the vaccine procurement process. On October 6th, the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology issued document No. 1983/VSDTTƯ to localities requesting a review of the required quantity of DPT-VGB-Hib vaccine (5-in-1 vaccine).
In the same document, the Central Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology stated that the earliest expected date for the resumption of vaccine supply under the Expanded Immunization Program, including the 5-in-1 vaccine, is the end of December 2023.
Currently, the supply of vaccines under the Expanded Immunization Program in the city is running low. Specifically, there are only about 3,000 doses of DPT-VGB-Hib vaccine (5-in-1 vaccine), 2,300 doses of measles-rubella vaccine, 660 doses of measles vaccine, 600 doses of tetanus vaccine, and 89 doses of hepatitis B vaccine remaining. The Ho Chi Minh City Center for Disease Control (HCDC) predicts that this amount of vaccine will only last for another two weeks.
In light of this situation, the City Health Department has continued to petition the Ministry of Health to expedite the supply of vaccines under the Expanded Immunization Program. Simultaneously, the City Center for Disease Control continues to rationally coordinate the remaining vaccine supply among localities within the city and instructs ward and commune health stations to review and closely manage the list of children due for new vaccinations and booster shots, ensuring timely reminders and early vaccination as soon as vaccine supplies become available again.
The Department of Health also informed that the 5-in-1 vaccine is currently available through private clinics. If necessary, parents can consider taking their children to healthcare facilities for consultation and vaccination as needed.
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