Who is eligible for free vaccination? What are the regulations on the quantity and types of vaccines for the Expanded Immunization Program in Vietnam?
Who is eligible for free vaccination in Vietnam?
Pursuant to Article 3 of Decree 104/2016/ND-CP amended and supplemented by Clause 1, Article 1 of Decree 13/2024/ND-CP, regulations on vaccination activities are as follows:
Definitions
1. Vaccination means administration of a vaccine into the human body to develop adaptive immunity to a pathogen.
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7. The expanded programme on immunization is a program organized by the State to vaccinate children and pregnant women for free with mandatory vaccines to prevent infectious diseases.
Thus, according to official regulations from February 5, 2024, the State will organize an expanded programme on immunisation is a program organized by the State to vaccinate children and pregnant women for free with mandatory vaccines to prevent infectious diseases.
Who is eligible for free vaccination? What are the regulations on the quantity and types of vaccines for the Expanded Immunization Program in Vietnam?
What are the regulations on the supply of vaccines for the Vietnamese expanded program on immunisation?
According to Article 7 of Decree 104/2016/ND-CP amended and supplemented by Clause 2, Article 1 of Decree 13/2024/ND-CP, regulations on vaccine supply for vaccination activities are as follows:
- Vaccines used for expanded immunization programs and vaccinations against epidemics must be adequate for annual demand and 6-month reserve.
- Depending on the number of vaccinated subjects, the time and dosage of each type of vaccine used, the vaccination facility is responsible for preparing the estimated vaccine demand as stipulated in Article 1 of this Regulation for the entire year and sending it to the district-level vaccination management agency before May 30th each year for guidance on vaccine allocation in the Expanded Immunization Program.
- Depending on the proposed vaccine demand from the district-level vaccination management agency, the Department of Health is responsible for compiling and submitting the demand to the provincial People's Committee for approval and sending it to the Ministry of Health before June 30th each year to develop the annual vaccine supply and immunization plan.
- In case of redundancy or inadequacy of vaccines at certain vaccination clinics, the Provincial Department of Health shall assist the People’s Committee of the province to distribute vaccines among vaccination clinics in the province to ensure adequacy, timely and continuous supply of vaccines, and send monthly reports on use of vaccines to the Ministry of Health.
- In case of redundancy or inadequacy of vaccines in certain provinces, the Minister of Health shall instruct relevant units to distribute vaccines among the provinces.
What are regulations on funding sources for vaccination activities in Vietnam?
Pursuant to Article 14 of Decree 104/2016/ND-CP amended and supplemented by Clause 3, Article 1 of Decree 13/2024/ND-CP, regulations on funding sources for vaccination activities are as follows:
- Funding sources:
+ State budget;
+ Sponsorships provided by domestic and overseas entities;
+ Health insurance fund;
+ Other lawful sources of revenue.
- State budget shall provide funding for:
+ Provision of vaccines and biologicals for the entities mentioned in Clause 3 Article 28 and Clause 4 Article 29 of the Law on Prevention and treatment of infectious diseases;
+ Investment in cold chain for expanded immunization programs and vaccinations against epidemics;
+ Dissemination of information, inspection, training, scientific research serving application of new vaccination technologies and methods;
+ Compensation for serious vaccine injuries or deaths during expanded immunization programs and vaccinations against epidemics.
- The central budget is allocated within the regular expenditure budget of the Ministry of Health to ensure funding for the following activities in the Expanded Immunization Program:
+ Purchasing vaccines for target groups in the Expanded Immunization Program.
+ Vaccine testing and validation.
+ Receiving, transporting, and storing vaccines to provincial and city levels.
+ Information, education, communication, training, and scientific research to apply new techniques and methods in immunization, as well as monitoring and evaluating vaccine effectiveness at the central level.
+ Compensation for serious adverse events or damages to the health or life of individuals vaccinated at vaccination facilities under central ministries and agencies.
In cases where adverse events occur due to vaccine quality, inherent characteristics of the vaccine, or errors in vaccine storage and transportation from the central level to provincial and city levels, the central budget will be allocated to provide compensation.
Therefore, the funding for vaccination activities is formed from various sources to ensure activities ranging from infrastructure for vaccine administration to communication, technical training, and methods in immunization. In particular, the central budget is allocated within the regular expenditure budget of the Ministry of Health to ensure funding for free vaccination activities using mandatory vaccines for preventing infectious diseases for children and pregnant women in the Expanded Immunization Program.
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