The Hoa Tri Commune Health Center at Phu Hoa District, Phu Yen was packed on a Friday morning. The center had just opened, but its waiting area was already full of parents and grandparents with infants cradled on their laps and patiently waiting for their child's or grandchild’s turn to get vaccinated.
Back in the second half of 2021, the health center was not as bustling as it was that morning. For three months, the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted routine child immunization services in the commune.
“We could not maintain the routine immunization services during the strict physical distancing period. I was concerned that children might catch diseases before getting vaccinated,” said Dr Nguyen Thi Duyen, the health center chief.
Dr Duyen is the health center chief and has been working in the commune for 20 years.Photo: © WHO Viet Nam/M Pham
Childhood vaccination has been a family concern in the commune, a result of years of national and local efforts in convincing parents to complete their children’s vaccines. Dr Duyen shared that during the interrupted period, many had been worried and had been constantly calling the center, requesting to catch up with their children’s vaccination.
Parents and caregivers wanted to come back to the health center as soon as possible. When physical distancing and mobility measures eased, the number of children getting vaccinated at the health center increased to 110 per day, doubling the usual number before the pandemic.
Vang took a day off to accompany his wife and their first-born daughter to the vaccination site. For him, getting his daughter vaccinated is important for her protection. Photo: © WHO Viet Nam/M Pham
Little boy Bảo is about to receive his third shot of the 5-in-1 vaccine. Photo: © WHO Viet Nam/M Pham
Thuy was one of the parents who brought their children that Friday morning. Her family used to live in Nha Trang – the big city in the neighbouring province of Khanh Hoa. She worked at a warehouse, like most of the adults in the commune.
In Nha Trang, although Thuy and her husband were very busy at work, they always ensured that the vaccinations of their children – a son and a daughter - were up to date. The children’s grandmother also helped bring them to the health center.
When Nha Trang was hit hard by the pandemic, Thuy brought the two children back home in Hoa Tri commune, Phu Hoa District, Phu Yen province. That Friday, Thuy’s three-month-old daughter received her third shot of the 5-in-1 vaccine. Thuy also ensured that her son, who missed his tetanus vaccine due to the pandemic, received his dose albeit six months late.
“Getting my children fully vaccinated means giving them a healthy life. I am assured that they are protected when they go to school and play with their friends, especially while the pandemic isn’t over yet,” said Thuy.
Thuy’s family was leaving the health center after two children got vaccinated. Photo: © WHO Viet Nam/H Le
The vaccination session for the morning was almost finished after two hours, through efficient health workers who managed the session along with delivering other primary health care services.
Viet Nam’s National Expanded Program on Immunization provides 10 life-saving vaccines to all Vietnamese children, free of charge. Each year, more than 1.5 million children are born in Viet Nam. Complete vaccination protects them from 10 deadly childhood vaccine-preventable diseases including diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, Hepatitis B, pneumonia and meningitis caused by Hib (Haemophilus influenzae type b), tuberculosis, measles, rubella, Japanese encephalitis and polio.
Nga took both of her daughters for vaccination. Quyên, the older daughter, got her third shot of the 5-in-1 vaccine because she was sick when she was scheduled for her dose last year. Photo: © WHO Viet Nam/M Pham
Unfortunately, due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the last two years, only 77.1% of Vietnamese children under one-year-old were fully vaccinated. More than 300,000 children missed out on some of the basic vaccines, placing them at risk of getting sick of vaccine-preventable diseases.
It is thus urgent for parents and health workers to work together to catch up on the children’s missed doses.
The summer breeze lingered gently on the children’s cheeks while they were held dearly in their parents’ arms in the post-vaccination area. A health worker handed Thuy her children’s vaccination records, answered some parents’ questions and concerns about their children’s health and reminded the other parents of their child’s next vaccination schedule.
For Thuy, taking note of her children's next visit and ensuring her children receive their vaccine doses on time give her more confidence that they are better protected.
Vaccines give everyone peace of mind knowing that children are ushered the opportunity to reach their full potential to pursue a life well-lived. Vaccines provide hope for all of us to enjoy a healthy, more fulfilling life—and that is something we should all be aiming for.