5,500 doses of rotavirus vaccine provided to prevent diarrhea in children

In implementation of Plan No. 263 dated December 29, 2025, issued by the Hai Phong Department of Health on rolling out the rotavirus vaccine under the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) in 2026, during January 2026 the city’s Center for Disease Control (CDC) distributed 5,500 doses of the vaccine to 27 district-level medical centers. Of these, 2,900 doses were allocated to the eastern area and 2,600 doses to the western area. All 114 health stations across the city received sufficient vaccine supplies and organized oral administration for children under one year of age during the period from January 25 to 30, 2026.

The city CDC established four supervision teams to monitor and inspect implementation at multiple vaccination sites throughout the city. Health stations strictly followed professional procedures, including ensuring adequate equipment, conducting pre-administration screening, and providing guidance to parents on monitoring their children’s health before and after vaccination, thereby ensuring vaccination safety.

The rotavirus vaccine is a new vaccine being introduced for the first time into the Expanded Programme on Immunization, contributing to proactive prevention of acute diarrhea caused by rotavirus—the leading cause of hospitalization and mortality among young children. The vaccine is administered orally in combination with other vaccines during monthly immunization sessions. For children whose vaccination must be temporarily postponed, health stations will organize early catch-up dosing to minimize the risk of children missing the opportunity to receive the vaccine due to age eligibility limits.

Prior to implementation, the city CDC organized comprehensive training sessions for health workers at health stations, covering professional knowledge, vaccination procedures, and the management of post-vaccination adverse events, ensuring the safe and effective rollout of the rotavirus vaccine across the city.

Duc Thanh