Viet Nam has seen great achievements in researching and producing vaccines, especially the production of 10 out of the 11 kinds mentioned in the nationwide expanded immunisation programme, said Deputy Health Minister Nguyen Thanh Long.

Illustrative image (Source: VNA)

The country has taken the initiative in preventing dangerous infectious diseases over the past years, Long stated at a seminar themed “ Viet Nam’s vaccines – Development and Integration” in Ha Noi on December 22.

Reports delivered at the event showed that expanded immunisation is one of the safest and most efficient measures to reduce fatalities and improve life quality.

Since being implemented nationwide in 1985, the programme has helped protect around 6.7 million children from five infectious diseases, namely newborn tetanus, measles, diphtheria, whooping cough and poliomyelitis and avoid 42,900 fatalities caused by these diseases.

In 2015,  Viet Nam’s National Regulatory Authority for vaccines was recognised to meet international requirements by the World Health Organisation. It means that Vietnam’s vaccines align with international standards and are acknowledged by the international community.

However, the country’s export of vaccines has yet to meet expectations, according to reports.

As such, the seminar was held by the Health Ministry to discuss  Viet Nam’s advantages and potential in researching and producing vaccines as well as sharing assessments of technologies in vaccine production serving domestic demands and export.

(Source: VNA)