Vietnamese citizens will be provided free of charge with four more vaccines against Rotavirus, pneumococcal disease, cervical cancer, and seasonal flu, according to a new government resolution.
A child is given health check-up for vaccination
Resolution 104 on the Expanded Immunisation Programme for the 2021-2030 period signed by Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam on August 15 stipulated that the vaccine against Rotavirus will be offered free to local people from 2022, while those vaccines against pneumococcal disease, cervical cancer, and seasonal flu will also be provided free of charge from 2025, 2026, and 2030 respectively.
The resolution also said that in the case of having domestic aid and support, the Ministry of Health may decide whether the free programme can be implemented sooner.
The government agrees to allow provinces and cities capable of balancing their local budgets to purchase vaccines against cervical cancer if they can access preferential prices for high-risk groups in addition to the programme from 2022 to 2025, with the aim to encourage people to participate in the vaccination against the disease.
A report from the Ministry of Health said that the country confirmed between 600,000 - 1 million cases of seasonal flu every year which are mostly seen when it changes from summer to autumn or from winter to spring.
Meanwhile, cervical cancer remained among the 10 most common types of cancer in relation to the number of new cases and fatalities in Vietnam.