JOINT CIRCULAR No. 12/2001/TTLT-BYT-BGDĐT GUIDING THE COOPERATION IN IMPLEMENTING THE EXTENDED IMMUNIZATION PROGRAM AT KINDERGARTEN AND PRIMARY SCHOOL EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES

JOINT CIRCULAR

Guidelines for Coordinating the Implementation of Expanded Immunization Programs at Early Childhood Education Centers and Primary Schools

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Implementing Resolution No. 90/CP dated August 21, 1997 of the Government on the Direction and Policy for Socializing Educational, Health, and Cultural Activities, and Decision No. 71 dated May 4, 2001 of the Prime Minister on National Programs and Goals for the 2001-2005 period, including the Expanded Immunization Program.

To build upon the achievements of the Expanded Immunization Program during the 1995-2000 period and strive to achieve the goals of the Expanded Immunization Program for the 2001-2005 period, one of the key solutions is to socialize the Expanded Immunization Program to enhance cooperation and active participation from ministries, sectors, social organizations, and parents. The Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education and Training provide guidelines for coordinating the implementation of the Expanded Immunization Program at early childhood education centers and primary schools as follows:

I. GENERAL PROVISIONS:

1. General objectives

During the 2001-2005 period, all children within the age range will be fully vaccinated; maintain the achievement of polio eradication; reduce the incidence/mortality rate of diseases under the Expanded Immunization Program; aim to eliminate measles by 2010.

Specific Goals:

- Prevent polio from re-emerging,

- 100% of districts meet the criteria for eliminating neonatal tetanus, reducing the national neonatal tetanus rate to 0.14/100,000 people.

- Achieve over 90% of infants under one year old being fully vaccinated with seven types of vaccines (tuberculosis, pertussis, diphtheria, tetanus, polio, measles, hepatitis B),

- Reduce the measles incidence rate to below 5/100,000 people,

- Reduce the diphtheria incidence rate to below 0.05/100,000 people,

- Reduce the pertussis incidence rate to below 0.5/100,000 people,

- Achieve over 80% of target groups being vaccinated with typhoid, cholera, and encephalitis vaccines in regions specified by the Expanded Immunization Program.

Article 2. Scope of Regulation

This Circular stipulates the coordination in implementing the Expanded Immunization Program at kindergarten, early childhood education centers, and primary schools.

3. Subjects of application:

This Circular applies to Departments and Bureaus assisting the Minister of Health and the Minister of Education and Training in performing state management functions according to the division of labor by the Government, Provincial Health Departments, Provincial Education and Training Departments, District Health Centers, District Education and Training Offices, Commune Health Stations, Ward Health Stations, Town Health Stations, and Principals of early childhood education centers and primary schools.

II. CONTENTS OF COORDINATING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE EXPANDED IMMUNIZATION PROGRAM AT KINDERGARTENS, EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION CENTERS, AND PRIMARY SCHOOLS:

1. Regular immunization services.

1.1. Organize free vaccination for six basic vaccines: Tuberculosis, Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus, Polio, Measles for all infants under one year old.

1.2. Organize free vaccination for four new vaccines in the Expanded Immunization Program: Hepatitis B for all infants under one year old, Japanese Encephalitis B for all children aged 1 to 5 years, Cholera for all children aged 2 to 5 years, Typhoid for all children aged 3 to 5 years in regions specified by the Expanded Immunization Program.

2. Organizing immunization campaigns:

2.1. Organize free oral vaccine campaigns against Polio for children under five years old in regions specified by the Expanded Immunization Program.

2.2. Organize free vaccination campaigns for the second dose of Measles vaccine for children aged 9 months to 10 years.

III. RESPONSIBILITIES FOR COORDINATING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE EXPANDED IMMUNIZATION PROGRAM AT EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION CENTERS AND PRIMARY SCHOOLS:

1. The Health Sector is responsible for proactively coordinating with the Education and Training Sector in the following tasks:

1.1. Organize Expanded Immunization Programs for students at early childhood education centers and primary schools during campaigns as well as regularly.

1.2. Provide educational materials and instructors to support the Education and Training Sector in organizing training courses for key staff.

1.3. Support part of the funding for the Education and Training Sector to organize training courses.

1.4. Provide complete vaccination records for children at kindergartens, early childhood education centers, and primary schools.

1.5. Create conditions for transportation and funding for education sector officials to inspect, supervise, and direct during Expanded Immunization Campaigns.

2. The Education and Training Sector is responsible for coordinating with the Health Sector in the following tasks:

2.1. Organize training sessions to emphasize the significance of the Expanded Immunization Program, particularly the elimination of measles, for the entire staff and teachers.

2.2. Organize publicity, education, mobilization, and implementation of the measles second-dose vaccination campaign for over 20 million children aged 9 months to 10 years, ensuring no missed targets, quality of vaccination services, and safety during the vaccination process.

2.3. Monitor the health status and vaccination records of children before they attend school and during their schooling.

2.4. Direct teachers and students nationwide to voluntarily participate in Expanded Immunization Campaigns such as promotion, mobilization, and involvement in vaccination tables and related activities.

2.5. Organize joint inspections and supervision with the health sector throughout the implementation of the Expanded Immunization Campaign nationwide.

IV. IMPLEMENTATION ORGANIZATION:

1. The Minister of Health assigns the Department of Preventive Medicine, Expanded Immunization Program (Central Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology), and the Minister of Education and Training assigns the Department of Early Childhood Education, Department of Primary Education to assist the Ministers in coordinating the development of plans for implementation, direction, inspection, supervision, and reporting on the execution of this Circular.

2. People's Committees of provinces and centrally-administered cities take the lead and assign the Directors of Health Departments and Directors of Education and Training Departments to implement the contents of this Circular and report jointly to the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education and Training.

V. IMPLEMENTATION PROVISIONS

This Circular takes effect 15 days after its issuance date.

In the course of implementation, if there are difficulties or obstacles, units and localities are requested to promptly reflect them to the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education and Training for review and appropriate amendments.