Hanoi: Vi?t Nam has made significant strides in protecting children from vaccine-preventable diseases, according to the latest national immunization coverage estimates released by the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF on July 15. In 2024, the country achieved 99 percent coverage for the first dose of the diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (DTP) vaccine, up from 80 percent in 2023. This marks not only a recovery to pre-pandemic levels but also a new high surpassing the rates recorded in 2019.
According to Philippines News Agency, this improvement led to a reduction in the number of zero-dose children - children who had not been protected by any vaccine - from 274,000 in 2023 to just 13,000 in 2024, a decline of over 95 percent. Compared to the previous year, many more young Vietnamese children are protected against common vaccine-preventable diseases. This success, far exceeding global averages, has been credited to strong government leadership, health worker dedication, and active community and parental support.
WHO Deputy Representative in Vi?t Nam, Dr. Jennifer Horton, stated that the estimates were evidence of the hard work of the health sector to bolster routine immunization following the pandemic and conduct outbreak response vaccination activities during the 2024-2025 measles outbreak. Almost 1.3 million children were vaccinated against measles in mass vaccination campaigns in 2024, and activities continued into 2025. 'This positive increase in vaccination coverage numbers is a tribute to the thousands of dedicated healthcare workers who have worked so hard to restore life-saving immunization services after a sustained decline due to pandemic disruptions and stockouts. We thank everyone across the country for their impressive efforts to keep children safe,' she said.
Dr. Nguy?n Huy Du, acting Chief of Child Survival and Development, UNICEF Vi?t Nam, commented on the achievement, stating, 'This achievement is a powerful reflection of Viet Nam's unwavering commitment to child health and the strength of its primary healthcare system.' Further data show that 97 percent of Vietnamese children received all three doses of the DTP vaccine in 2024 - a 32-point jump from 65 percent in 2023. Coverage for the first measles vaccine dose also surged from 82 percent to 98 percent over the same period.
Despite these gains, challenges persist as about 40,000 children have not yet received their third DTP dose, and 27,000 missed their first measles vaccine dose. To sustain progress, WHO and UNICEF underscored the need to strengthen vaccine supply chains, promote routine immunization through private healthcare providers, and empower local authorities to reach underserved communities with tailored strategies.
