VNVC conducted pre-school vaccination review activities at nearly 300 of its centers nationwide and in some schools.
Decree 165, which guides the Law on Disease Prevention and took effect in July, mandates a review of vaccination histories for all preschool, primary, and other school-level students. This review is to be implemented from the start of the academic year.
A VNVC representative stated that many parents are proactively reviewing their children's vaccination histories to easily update their records before the new school year. Commonly checked vaccines include diphtheria-pertussis-tetanus, measles-mumps-rubella, and Japanese encephalitis. Additionally, parents receive consultations on other protective vaccines for children, such as pneumococcal, chickenpox, meningococcal, flu, dengue fever, and HPV.
Le Thuy Dung, 30, from Hanoi, whose two children are entering grade 2 and grade 5, checked their vaccination histories in early August. After consultation, she vaccinated her children against flu and chickenpox and plans to add the meningococcal vaccine. At Phu Loi Secondary School, Ho Chi Minh City, parents were guided to scan QR codes, fill in the required information, and then receive a confirmation certificate at the center. Le Thi Tham, the school principal, noted that this approach saves families time and simplifies updating student records.
 |
VNVC staff, in collaboration with local health authorities and the school, conducted health check-ups and guided students on how to review vaccination histories at Phu Loi Secondary School, Ho Chi Minh City. *Photo: Tri Nhien* |
Dr. Bach Thi Chinh, Medical Director of the VNVC Vaccination System, reported that over half of children in preschool, primary, and early secondary grades require consultation for booster shots. A common misconception is that children who have received "many shots" are "fully vaccinated." In reality, each vaccine has a different number of doses and booster schedule. Therefore, it is essential to cross-reference records with each child's age and health history, rather than just recalling whether they have been vaccinated before.
Ensuring all vaccine doses are complete before school starts helps students maintain their health for learning and playing in crowded environments. If some children are not fully protected, infectious diseases can spread within classrooms and then to families, disrupting education and daily life.
 |
A family brought their two children for vaccination history review and received consultation on necessary booster shots before the new school year. *Photo: Minh Trung* |
According to Dr. Chinh, parents should prepare existing vaccination books or certificates to facilitate the cross-referencing process. For preschool and primary school children, attention should be paid to basic and booster doses missed in early childhood. Secondary and high school students should also continue to be checked due to additional age- and risk-based indications.
Vaccines require time for the body to build an immune response, so families should not wait until schools report new cases to vaccinate their children. Supplementary schedules should be advised by healthcare professionals based on age, vaccination history, underlying conditions, and current guidelines. For instance, for hand, foot, and mouth disease, the Ministry of Health approved a vaccine for circulation in 3/2026, administered to children aged two months to under six years. VNVC is expediting procedures and preparing all necessary conditions for early deployment to protect children promptly.
Gia Nghi
