Following reports of localized outbreaks near its borders, the Government has issued an urgent directive to safeguard the country’s polio-free status and prevent potential community transmission.
High risk from cross-border infection According to international health warnings, a neighboring country has recently confirmed cases of vaccine-derived poliovirus type 1 (VDPV1). Notably, these cases were detected only about 164 km from Vietnam’s Quang Tri province. Given that polio is a highly contagious acute infectious disease that spreads rapidly in populations with low immunity, Vietnam is currently assessed as being at high risk for virus importation.
Large-scale vaccination campaign and coverage goals To proactively respond to this threat, the Government has mandated local authorities and health sectors to execute several key tasks:
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Boosting catch-up vaccinations: Efforts will focus on identifying and vaccinating children in areas with low coverage, remote regions, and ethnic minority communities. The goal is to achieve an oral or injectable polio vaccine coverage rate of over 95% at the ward and commune levels nationwide.
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Strict monitoring of suspected cases: Authorities will intensify surveillance of acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) in children under 15 and conduct environmental monitoring to detect any potential circulation of the virus.
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Local government accountability: People’s Committees at all levels are directly responsible for managing vaccination targets within their jurisdictions, ensuring no eligible child is missed.
Inter-agency cooperation in epidemic prevention In addition to the healthcare sector, the education department has been tasked with reviewing students’ vaccination histories to support catch-up efforts. Media agencies are responsible for providing accurate and timely updates on the epidemic situation and encouraging families to vaccinate their children as scheduled, while actively preventing the spread of misinformation. Logistics, supplies, and chemical reserves must also be maintained in a state of readiness for any potential outbreak.