Many diseases are at risk of outbreak
Dengue fever, hand, foot and mouth disease increased sharply in October, while COVID-19 and seasonal flu were still circulating, causing the Ministry of Health to worry about the risk of overlapping epidemics in the fall - winter.
According to the October 2025 health work report, the Ministry of Health said that the situation of infectious diseases is complicated across the country. The changing seasons and the impact of climate change create favorable conditions for many pathogens, especially the group of respiratory and digestive diseases, to develop and spread rapidly.
Among the diseases currently circulating, dengue fever is considered the most worrying. In October alone, the country recorded more than 24,250 new cases, of which 6 died. From December 2024 to now, the total number of cases has exceeded 110,500, with 23 deaths - an increase of nearly 17% over the same period last year.
In Ho Chi Minh City, the epidemic tends to spread as more than 2,200 cases have appeared in just one week, bringing the total number of cases since the beginning of the year to 48,000. The districts of Bac Tan Uyen, Bau Bang (Binh Duong) and Can Gio (HCMC) are among the groups with the highest infection rates in the country.
Hanoi has also recorded nearly 4,000 cases of dengue fever since the beginning of the year, and the epidemic is expected to continue to increase according to the annual cycle.
Experts warn that this year the epidemic will not only increase in number but also many cases will be severe, with complications of shock, liver damage, and low blood pressure. Prolonged high temperatures caused by El Nino are considered the main factor driving the strong development of disease-carrying mosquitoes. The epidemic tends to break the 4-5 year cycle, requiring early and continuous strengthening of prevention and control work.
Not only dengue fever, hand, foot and mouth disease and scoliosis also increase rapidly.
Mr. Vo Hai Son, Deputy Director of the Department of Infectious Disease Prevention (Ministry of Health), commented: "If localities do not proactively implement control measures right from the beginning of the season, the risk of "epidemic overlap" outbreak by the end of 2025 is very high".
In this situation, the Ministry of Health requested provinces and cities to strengthen epidemic supervision at border gates, medical facilities and communities, thoroughly handle outbreaks right from the first case, and at the same time promote expanded immunization to improve community immunity.
As of October, the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology has received 21 million doses of vaccine, ensuring supply for the fourth quarter of 2025 and maintaining reserves until mid-2026. Hanoi is also implementing an expanded immunization plan for the period 2026 - 2028, aiming to cover the entire population, especially for young children and high-risk groups, in order to proactively prevent epidemics early, minimizing the risk of overlapping epidemics in the coming years.
Hanoi implements vaccination plan 2026 - 2028
The Hanoi People's Committee has just issued Plan No. 279 on the implementation of the expanded immunization program for the period 2026 - 2028 in the city.
The plan aims to improve the quality of care and protect people's health in the new situation through vaccination against diseases, reducing the incidence and mortality rate from diseases that can be prevented by vaccines.
From 2026 to 2028, Hanoi will continue to organize vaccination of vaccines in the national expanded immunization program, while adding new vaccines to use at regular vaccination points in wards and communes.
Maintain the 24-hour vaccination rate for newborn hepatitis B vaccination at 90% or more.
Lao, DPT-VGB- Hib, Measles - Rubella, Tetanus vaccines for pregnant women, Epidemiology, thrombosis, HPV, Rota... reached 95% or more.
Increase the vaccination rate of DPT, Td, Japanese Encephalitis to a minimum of 95%.
In disease monitoring, the city strives to have no wild polio virus, 100% of wards and communes meet the standards to eliminate newborn tetanus curling...
Children will be fully vaccinated with all types of vaccines, especially the Rota vaccine, which is expected to be used from 2026. Pregnant women are vaccinated against tetanus to prevent newborn tetanus.
