Excellency, Associate Professor, Dr Nguyen Thanh Long, Vice Minister of Health,
Representatives from the central Government and provinces,
UN colleagues, representatives of development partners and international non-governmental organizations,
Representatives of the media,
Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is my great pleasure to be here today, on behalf of the United Nations in Viet Nam, in observance of World Immunization Week 2013.
World Immunization Week – which takes place during the last week in April every year – gives countries and our partners around the world a focused opportunity to raise public awareness of how immunization saves lives – during the same week, every year, in every country.
Today’s event allows us to celebrate the remarkable success and achievements of Viet Nam’s Extended Programme on Immunization (EPI) over the last 26 years. It also allows us to build upon these achievements so that we can focus our efforts on ensuring that 100% of all Vietnamese children are protected against vaccine-preventable diseases.
In 1981, Viet Nam built upon the success of the smallpox eradication campaigns, by expanding its vaccine programme. Since then the EPI programme has scaled up access to vaccines, saving 42,000 lives and averting more than 6.7 million cases of polio, tetanus, diphtheria, measles and pertussis. Over 1.7 million Vietnamese infants (96%) receive routine immunization against 10 important childhood diseases.
Most recently in the last two years, the percentage of new borns receiving protection against Hepatitis B has increased from 21% to 76%. All these achievements are due to the tireless efforts of front line health workers, often working in difficult circumstances, and sustained Government and development partner commitment.
Vaccines have the power not only to save but also to transform lives, giving children a chance to grow up healthy, go to school and improve their life prospects. The benefits of vaccines are much greater than the minimal risks of side effects that are most often, minor and temporary.
The United Nations organizations such as UNICEF, WHO and other GAVI Alliance partners have been instrumental in supporting countries to introduce potent new vaccines that otherwise could not afford them. For example, Viet Nam has recently taken the bold step to introduce the measles rubella vaccine later this year, with the aim of reaching 23 million children 9 months to 14 years old and by routine services to later avert 83,000 cases of congenital rubella syndrome. Viet Nam’s domestic vaccine manufacturing capacity is scaling up and, if this meets minimum global standards, may strengthen the country’s economy further.
UNICEF and WHO will continue to ensure that vaccines procured internationally meet minimum standards and Viet Nam’s National Regulatory Authority will also need to continue its vital role.
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, once again I would like to congratulate the Government of Vietnam for its remarkable achievement in protecting children from disease.
For the past 25 years, the United Nations organizations such as UNICEF and WHO have worked closely in partnership with Viet Nam’s EPI programme. Together we have, and we will continue to work towards making preventable child deaths a thing of the past and give each and every child an equal opportunity to survive.
I wish you a successful event and thank you very much for your kind attention.
Xin Cám Ơn.
Dr. Takeshi Kasai