Dong Nai to roll out Rotavirus vaccine under Expanded Programme on Immunisation from 2026

On the afternoon of December 31, the Dong Nai Provincial Center for Disease Control (CDC) held a conference to implement the Rotavirus vaccine for children under one year of age as part of the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI), starting in 2026 across Dong Nai Province.

Ho Thi Hoa, Specialist Level I, Deputy Head of the Department of Infectious Disease Prevention and Control (Dong Nai CDC), provides guidance on the implementation of the Rotavirus vaccine in the Expanded Programme on Immunisation from 2026. Photo: Hanh Dung

Rotavirus is one of the leading causes of severe acute diarrhea in children under five years old, especially infants under one year of age. The disease often has a sudden onset with symptoms such as frequent diarrhea, vomiting, and fever, quickly leading to severe dehydration, which can cause dangerous complications and even death if not treated promptly.

Before the Rotavirus vaccine was widely used, hundreds of thousands of deaths and millions of hospitalizations due to acute diarrhea were recorded worldwide each year. In recent years, as the Rotavirus vaccine has been increasingly used at private vaccination services, the incidence of acute diarrhea caused by Rotavirus has shown a clear downward trend. This reality is considered significant evidence confirming the vaccine’s role in effective disease prevention.

In 2024, the Rotavirus vaccine was incorporated into the EPI, providing free oral doses for children in 21 provinces nationwide. In 2025, the program was implemented in 20 provinces, including the former Binh Phuoc Province. Initial results indicate that the program has helped expand vaccine access for children, particularly those under six months of age, the group at highest risk of infection.

Young children receive the Rotavirus vaccine as a paid service at Dong Nai General Hospital, prior to its inclusion in the Expanded Programme on Immunisation. Photo: Hanh Dung

At the conference, Ho Thi Hoa stated that, starting from 2026, the Rotavirus vaccine will be implemented nationwide under the EPI. This initiative is anticipated to help reduce morbidity and mortality from acute diarrhea in young children, as well as enhance the effectiveness of child healthcare and protection from the earliest stages of life.

Hoa emphasized that the Rotavirus vaccine can be administered concurrently with other vaccines during the same immunization visit. However, each child should use only one type of Rotavirus vaccine throughout the entire course. Children who previously received a different Rotavirus vaccine through private services should not switch to Rotavin under the EPI; those who started Rotavin through private services may continue with the remaining doses under the program.

During vaccination sessions, children must undergo pre-vaccination screening, and parents or caregivers must receive full counseling on the benefits, potential post-vaccination reactions, and how to monitor the child at home. After receiving the vaccine, children should be observed at the vaccination site for at least 30 minutes. They should then continue to be monitored at home for the first 24 hours, as well as from day 7 to day 21, to ensure early detection of any abnormal symptoms.

By Hanh Dung - Translated by Trieu Ngan, Minho