Vietnam’s practical initiatives and contributions

On September 20, 2023, the permanent delegation of Vietnam in Geneva held an international workshop on promoting the right to immunization and introduced two initiatives on the same topic within the framework of the 54th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva (Switzerland).

The initiatives are part of a series of initiatives and practical contributions of Vietnam as an active and responsible member of the United Nations Human Rights Council for the 2023-2025 term.

Ambassador Le Thi Tuyet Mai, head of the Vietnamese Delegation to the UN, World Trade Organization, and other international organizations in Geneva, emphasized Vietnam's policies and achievements in ensuring human rights to access vaccines, making an important contribution to promoting people's health and socio-economic development.

In addition to the efforts of the government and people, Ambassador Le Thi Tuyet Mai affirmed the importance of the support and cooperation of the international community to help Vietnam gain achievements in expanded vaccination, especially the support of the World Health Organization (WHO), the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (Gavi), COVAX - the equitable vaccine distribution program initiated by WHO for poor countries, and other international partners.

The Government of Vietnam is strongly committed and gained important achievements in implementing the expanded vaccination program, established in 1981, and emergency programs such as COVID-19 vaccination, appreciated by WHO, GAVI, and the international community.

Notably, Vietnam has achieved a Covid-19 vaccination rate of nearly 100%, one of the highest rates in the world.

This makes an important contribution to effectively controlling the pandemic, and protecting people's lives while maintaining economic growth during the pandemic and post-pandemic recovery.

Ambassador Le Thi Tuyet Mai also shared about Vietnam's strategies and solutions to strengthen international cooperation, technical support, capacity building, and improving the public healthcare system.

Ensure the right to immunization, especially for vulnerable groups

At the discussion, representatives from Brazil, WHO, and Gavi all mentioned Vietnam's views, emphasizing the importance of vaccination in reducing health inequalities, improving educational outcomes, and the enjoyment of other human rights.

In a general debate on human rights at the UNHRC’s 54th session, the Vietnamese diplomat delivered a joint statement on immunization, which was co-sponsored by nearly 60 countries from all continents.

The statement emphasized that immunization is a crucial part of the right to the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, and highlighted the importance of vaccines, vaccine multilateralism and multilateral efforts, the role of the UNHRC to strengthening international solidarity and cooperation to ensure equitable, affordable, timely, and universal vaccine development, manufacturing, procurement, distribution, and vaccination for both routine programs and health emergencies.

The statement also called on countries and stakeholders to enhance solidarity and collaboration to promote the implementation of the WHO Immunization Agenda 2030, ensuring that everyone, everywhere, at every age fully benefits from vaccines to enjoy the right to the highest attainable standard of health, with priority given to demographic groups most vulnerable to vaccine-preventable diseases.

Hai Van