As many as 2.3 million doses of a newfive in one vaccine are now available free-of-charge for children underthe age of one as part of the National Expanded Programme onImmunisation which began on June 1.

The vaccine, which protects against the five diseases of diphtheria,pertussis, tetanus, hepatitis B and haemophilus influenza type B, hasbeen supplied by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

Jean Dupraz, deputy head of UNICEF in Vietnam, told a ceremonyannouncing the launch of the programme in Hanoi on June 1 that the useof the five-in-one vaccine will also help to expand Vietnam ’simmunisation programme.

Deputy Health Minister Trinh Quan Huan said that over the past 20 years,the National Expanded Programme on Immunisation has adapted to includenew diseases and viruses which has helped to keep millions of childrenhealthy.

The haemophilus influenza type B vaccine is the 11th in a series ofregular vaccines to be provided by the programme. With this newvaccine, children will only have to receive one vaccination instead ofthree to protect them against the five diseases. This is expected toreduce costs, time and human resources.

In 2008, the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation contributed36 million USD to help Vietnam bring the new vaccine into itsvaccination programme over 2010 and 2011.

Statistics from the programme show that the rates of children under oneyear old to be fully vaccinated reached 95 percent in 2009./.