Address the vaccine shortage issue promptly.
(Baonghean) - Vaccination aims to reduce the incidence of disease and mortality rates in children. Therefore, all countries around the world strive to ensure there are always enough vaccines so that children of eligible age can receive full vaccinations. Vietnam is not a wealthy country, but the State always pays attention and creates favorable conditions to ensure that every child receives full vaccinations according to the regulations of the Ministry of Health. However, recently there have been instances of children not receiving vaccinations on time. The reason is that the supply of the 6-in-1 vaccine, intended for private vaccination services rather than the expanded immunization program, is extremely scarce.
The reason for saying this is that in the last few days of September and the beginning of October, in major cities like Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and other provinces and cities, parents lined up, jostled, and pushed to get a spot from dawn to register their children for the 6-in-1 vaccine. However, not everyone was able to get their turn. The demand was high while the vaccine supply was limited. For example, at the vaccination point of the Central Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology (Hanoi), 500 doses of the 6-in-1 vaccine arrived the day before and were all gone by noon the next day, only satisfying half of the people in line. Therefore, the current vaccine supply only meets half of the demand. Many people have had to rush back and forth, relying on various hospitals and vaccination centers, but still couldn't get the vaccine for their children. They had to accept waiting, leading to delayed vaccinations compared to the prescribed schedule. Many children whose vaccinations were due had to wait 6 or 7 months, or even a year, without receiving all the necessary vaccinations.
Meanwhile, according to recommendations from the World Health Organization and the Department of Preventive Medicine (Ministry of Health), children from the second month onwards need to receive all necessary vaccinations against pertussis, polio, and bacterial encephalitis, because from two months of age onwards, antibodies transmitted from the mother have worn off, so vaccination is necessary to ensure protection against these diseases. According to health experts, the timing of vaccination is very important. Therefore, one should not rely on privately-provided vaccines, as the two types of vaccines are essentially the same in terms of immunity and protection. Usually, after two months, when a baby's immunity from the mother has worn off, they are susceptible to pertussis, so they should receive the diphtheria, pertussis, and tetanus vaccines immediately. If parents wait until 4 or 5 months to vaccinate, the child is at high risk of contracting these diseases. However, despite all these recommendations, people are still not very enthusiastic about the expanded immunization program and are determined to wait for the privately-provided 6-in-1 vaccine. Sometimes, waiting for a single dose can take up to a year. The reason for this situation is that several children have died after receiving the expanded immunization program, leading to a fear of the Quinvaxem vaccine within this program. As for why the supply of privately-provided vaccines is so scarce, the public has already discussed it extensively, yet the situation remains unchanged!
Explaining and clarifying the reasons for the shortage of the 6-in-1 vaccine can wait, but the shortage cannot be allowed to continue any longer. The lesson from the widespread measles outbreak earlier this year showed how neglecting vaccinations or not vaccinating on time affects children's health. For the sake of children's lives and health, the health sector and relevant agencies need to focus on resolving the shortage of the 6-in-1 vaccine. This issue should be resolved as soon as possible.
Duy Huong