Answer:

Government Decree 165/2026/ND-CP, effective from 1/7/2026, details and guides the implementation of articles within the Law on Disease Prevention. This decree mandates that educational institutions nationwide coordinate with local vaccination facilities to review the vaccination status of children and students across all educational levels. This initiative aims to organize catch-up and supplementary vaccinations, protecting health before the new academic year.

Parents who lose their child's vaccination record while preparing school admission documents need not worry. Currently, nearly 300 vaccination centers within the VNVC Vaccination System assist schools and parents by retrieving vaccination histories for children of all ages and issuing free vaccination certificates. These certificates are generated from data stored at VNVC and the National Immunization Information Management System.

Parents register for a vaccination certificate and receive a new vaccination record at VNVC. *Photo: An Hoa*

For convenient future management of vaccination schedules, parents can also monitor their child's vaccination information through the electronic vaccination record, integrated into the VNVC Mobile App. The app allows users to access vaccination history at the center, track upcoming vaccine doses, and receive schedule reminders, which helps prevent forgotten appointments or lost paper vaccination records.

VNVC also ensures a full supply of high-quality vaccines for all pediatric age groups, ready to meet the demand for catch-up, mop-up, and booster vaccinations during peak periods.

With students returning to school in about one month, the risk of infectious disease transmission increases. Schools are environments where many children gather for learning, play, and communal activities, making them susceptible to rapid spread.

Furthermore, after the summer break, many families travel with their children or visit relatives, increasing exposure to community-borne pathogens. Children risk contracting diseases such as influenza, measles, chickenpox, mumps, diphtheria, pneumococcal disease, meningococcal disease, and hand-foot-and-mouth disease. During the rainy season, children are also vulnerable to mosquito-borne illnesses like dengue fever and Japanese encephalitis.

Children who are not fully vaccinated or have not received recommended booster shots face a higher risk of contracting diseases and experiencing severe progression. Therefore, reviewing and ensuring catch-up, mop-up, or booster vaccinations are administered on schedule is crucial for enhancing children's protection before the new academic year.

Dr. Nguyen Le Nga

Medical Manager, VNVC Vaccination System

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