Vietnam makes remarkable progress in childhood immunisation

In 2024, Vietnam achieved 99 per cent coverage for the first dose of the diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis vaccine, up from 80 per cent in 2023. Immunisation coverage in Vietnam has rebounded to the high levels seen before the COVID-19 pandemic, and surpassed the rates recorded in 2019.

This improvement has led to a reduction in the number of zero-dose children from 274,000 in 2023 to just 13,000 in 2024, a decline of over 95 per cent. Compared to the previous year, many more young Vietnamese children are protected against common vaccine-preventable diseases.

In 2024, Vietnam had well above global averages for immunisation coverage, thanks to strong government leadership, great efforts by healthcare workers, and support from parents and the community.

WHO deputy representative in Vietnam Dr. Jennifer Horton said the estimates were evidence of the hard work of the health sector to bolster routine immunisation following the pandemic and conduct outbreak response vaccinations during the 2024-2025 measles outbreak. Almost 1.3 million children were vaccinated against measles in mass vaccination campaigns in 2024 and activities have continued into 2025.

“This positive increase in vaccination coverage is a tribute to the thousands of dedicated healthcare workers who have worked so hard to restore life-saving immunisation services after a sustained decline due to pandemic disruptions and stockouts. We thank everyone across the country for their impressive efforts to keep children safe,” she said.

According to Dr Nguyen Huy Du, acting chief of child survival and development at UNICEF Vietnam, this achievement is a powerful reflection of Vietnam’s unwavering commitment to child health and the strength of its primary healthcare system.

“At a time when 1.8 million children across UNICEF’s East Asia-Pacific region remain unvaccinated, Vietnam’s success offers a clear message: with strong political will, timely and adequate provision of immunisation supplies and outreach sessions, and community engagement, it is possible to reach every child. We commend Vietnam for its leadership towards closing the immunisation gap and ensuring that no child is left behind.”

The country also recorded a 32-percentage point increase in the proportion of children protected by three doses of diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis vaccine, reaching 97 per cent in 2024, up from 65 per cent the previous year. This indicates improved access and strong follow-through in completing the full vaccination schedule.

Additionally, coverage for the first dose of the measles vaccine rose significantly, from 82 per cent in 2023 to 98 per cent in 2024, protecting more children from one of the most contagious diseases.

Despite these gains, challenges remain. Vietnam still has 40,000 children who are unvaccinated with the third dose of the diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis vaccine or have not received the full course of vaccinations, and 27,000 children who missed their first dose of the measles vaccine. These gaps highlight the need for continued investment in community outreach, health worker training, and efforts to counter vaccine misinformation.

Children may remain un- or under-vaccinated due to various factors including geographic barriers, limited access to services in remote or underserved areas, and the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the health system. Ensuring secure and consistent vaccine supply chains, especially during current health system restructuring, will be critical to maintaining high coverage. To close the remaining gaps, private healthcare providers should be encouraged to recommend and administer all routine immunisations, and local authorities should be supported to implement tailored strategies that reach the most vulnerable populations.

WHO and UNICEF urge continued efforts to catch up with children who are still missing out on vaccines, particularly in hard-to-reach communities. Even small declines in coverage can lead to dangerous outbreaks and place additional strain on the health system.

The WUENIC data underscore the importance of local leadership, domestic financing, and integrated primary healthcare in achieving the goals of the immunisation agenda.

Vietnam’s example demonstrates that even in the face of global challenges, rapid progress is possible with targeted, equity-focused strategies, but only if countries act decisively to protect and build on these achievements.

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