As many as 2.3 million doses of a new five in one vaccine are now available free-of-charge for children aged less than one as part of the National Expanded Program on Immunization which began on June 1. The vaccine, which protects against five diseases of diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, hepatitis B and haemophilus influenza type B, has been provided by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). Jean Dupraz, deputy head of UNICEF in Vietnam, told a ceremony announcing the launch of the program in Hanoi on June 1 that the use of the five-in-one vaccine will also help to expand Vietnam’s immunization program. Deputy Health Minister Trinh Quan Huan said that the immunization program has helped to keep millions of children healthy over the past 20 years. With this new vaccine, children will only have to receive one shot instead of three to protect them against the five diseases. This is expected to reduce costs, time and human resources. In 2008, the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization granted $36 million to help Vietnam bring the new vaccine into its vaccination program between 2010 and 2011. The rates of children aged less than one to be fully vaccinated reached 95% in 2009, the program’s statistics showed.
