The Ministry of Health and local health authority in the northern province of Thai Binh organized a vaccination week starting from April 21 in response to the World Immunization Week 2014 promoted by World Health Organization. WHO’s Western Pacific Region adopted the theme of preventing liver cancer with hepatitis B vaccinations. Their slogan for the campaign was “Stop hepatitis B and liver cancer. Vaccinate at birth.” The campaign aims to raise people’s awareness of importance of immunization and release the information of vaccinations at birth for children. The entire state should mobilize to encourage vaccinations, said Tran Dac Phu, head of the Health Ministry’s Preventive Health Department. Local administrations should raise awareness about the importance of vaccinations in fighting diseases. Health sector must have more effective system especially in mountainous districts, disadvantaged and natural disaster-hit regions. Leaders of bureaus, departments and preventive medicine centers in 28 cities and provinces under the ministry and students participated in the ceremony. After the ceremony, hundred of students and staff in medical schools and facilities in Thai Binh Province marched to promote the immunization week. Representatives from bureaus, institutes, local people's committee and health authority supervised a vaccination at medical center in Tran Hung Dao ward of Thai Binh Town. (Saigon-gpdaily.com.vn April 27)
