With strict management, the expanded vaccination program in Hai Duong achieved high results.

Reality Check

In 2023, the Hai Duong Provincial Center for Disease Control (CDC) organized an inspection and supervision of expanded immunization work in all 12 localities in the province. The selection of health stations for inspection was carried out randomly. The purpose of the inspection and supervision was to assess the reality of expanded immunization management, thereby finding appropriate solutions to tighten and improve the effectiveness and quality of this work.

Through inspection, it was found that some commune health stations have not done a good job of management, the entry of vaccination data into the software is slow, inaccurate, and incomplete. Some staff in charge of data entry are not proficient in information technology... At times, statistical results showed that the vaccination rate for children in Hai Duong increased slowly due to these limitations. If not resolved completely, it will directly affect the assessment and consultation of disease prevention work of the health sector.

"We have requested the District Health Center to change the form of inspection and supervision of expanded vaccination management from periodic on the 25th of each month to regular and substantial. Organize training, and at the same time send cadres and employees working on expanded vaccination to guide health stations in entering data, implementing plans, estimating the number of vaccines for the following months... Arrange staff with knowledge of information technology to be in charge of entering vaccination data", Deputy Director of Hai Duong Provincial CDC Hoang Van Huynh informed.

At times, the data entry of vaccination information at some medical facilities in Ninh Giang district was not timely and inaccurate. Doctor Pham Huu Giang, in charge of the Department of Disease Control of the District Health Center, said that in addition to organizing training and improving knowledge for the team working on expanded vaccination, the unit also assigned 15 specialized staff to regularly stay in assigned areas, supporting health stations in communes and towns to review and organize vaccination activities according to instructions. "The limitations have been gradually overcome. Vaccination management in the area has been getting better and better," Dr. Giang informed.

The expanded vaccination management work has also been tightened by the Kinh Mon Town Health Center. Specialized staff of this center regularly go to 23 commune and ward health stations to check and supervise the implementation of plans, make vaccination lists, plan vaccines, propaganda work, enter data... "Previously, data entry at many vaccination service facilities in the area was still limited, some places did not enter information after vaccination. We have asked staff to go to each facility to check and require them to comply with regulations", said Dr. Hoang Van Tien, Director of the Kinh Mon Town Health Center.

Hai Duong currently has about 40 expanded vaccination facilities. Hai Duong CDC, the Medical Centers of districts, towns and cities in the province have regularly requested these facilities to strictly implement the regulations.

In 2023, the shortage of some vaccines somewhat affected the expanded vaccination program in Hai Duong. However, tightening management of this work helped the province's full vaccination rate still reach 95.5%, ranking first in the North.

Take advantage of social networks to manage

Deputy Director of Hai Duong CDC Hoang Van Huynh added that up to now, basically all commune and town health stations in the province have established Zalo groups for expanded vaccination. Most parents with children of vaccination age have smartphones, so the application of this social network is quite effective. They can easily access all propaganda documents, plans, vaccination schedule announcements and related issues that are updated on this Zalo group.

Exploiting and making full use of the Zalo social network in implementing the expanded immunization program has significantly contributed to raising awareness and responsibility of management agencies, especially parents with children of vaccination age. Ms. Nguyen Thi Binh in Thanh Ha district said: "Previously, there were only loudspeakers, and propaganda information related to vaccination for children was sometimes heard, sometimes not. Since the Zalo group was established, I have found this very useful. Not only do I know the vaccination schedule, I also know how to take care of my child after vaccination."

According to the reporter's investigation, Hai Duong CDC and the District Health Center have Zalo groups. The District Health Center, the commune health station, and the center's leaders and the unit's Disease Control Department have also established this group to strengthen management of expanded immunization work.

However, many vaccination service facilities in the province are still slow to update vaccination data, causing difficulties in management. According to current regulations, only village health workers are paid monthly allowances, while residential health workers have no basis for payment. This makes vaccination management difficult in many places.

"Residential health workers are the extended arm of the health station. Lack of this force makes all related work difficult. We request that superiors consider providing allowances for this team," Nguyen Thi Hang, Deputy Head of Tu Ky Town Health Station, suggested.