The new rules, issued under Circular 13/2026/TT-BYT, add diseases caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV) to the list of illnesses requiring compulsory vaccination through the country’s expanded immunisation programme.
The move is seen as an important step in preventing HPV-related diseases, particularly cervical cancer and other serious conditions.
Under the updated regulations, Vietnam’s national immunisation information system will be used to manage vaccination records, vaccine supplies and monitoring data nationwide.
The mandatory vaccination list now includes hepatitis B, tuberculosis, diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus, polio, measles, rubella, Japanese encephalitis, rotavirus, pneumococcal disease and HPV-related diseases.
The circular also requires vaccination centres to follow stricter procedures before, during and after injections, including screening examinations and post-vaccination monitoring.
People receiving vaccines must be monitored for at least 30 minutes after injection, while children and people with limited legal capacity must continue to be monitored at home for at least 24 hours.
The regulations also introduce clearer procedures for handling serious adverse reactions following vaccination, including temporary suspension of vaccine batches suspected of causing severe side effects pending investigation by health authorities.
