International Students Flock to Vietnam for Vaccinations, Citing Cost-Effectiveness

The student of Vietnamese at a HCM city university went to VNVC Hai Ba Trung Vaccination Centre for his nine-valent HPV vaccine schedule. He had his four-valent HPV vaccine seven years ago in Indonesia. When he came to Vietnam, he researched and found there was a vaccine that prevents more strains of HPV and so chose to get it. "I know HPV is often associated with cervical cancer for women. However, men can also contract HPV-related diseases such as genital wards or HPV-related cancers," he said. He also got Japanese encephalitis, measles-mumps-rubella, pneumococcal, rabies, and dengue vaccines. On one occasion, he got four shots at a time. He said the vaccination costs in Vietnam are lower than in neighbouring countries. HPV shots in Singapore cost the equivalent of SGD700 (US$543) as against around VND8 million ($304) in Vietnam. Lawrence receives his second HPV vaccine dose at the VNVC Hai Ba Trung Vaccination Center in HCMC. Photo by Khanh Hoa Mila Müller, 28, a German majoring in Vietnamese studies in Hanoi, also looked up vaccinations after coming to Vietnam. In Germany, Japanese encephalitis is rare and so she had previously paid little attention to it. For her studies, she often travels to suburban and rural areas for practical experience and knowing that Japanese encephalitis is prevalent in many Asian countries, including Vietnam, she went to VNVC Icon4 Cau Giay to get vaccinated. "I want to enjoy my time studying in Vietnam without worrying about preventable diseases," she said. Dr. Dinh Ki Nam of VNVC Hai Ba Trung Vaccination Centre said Wong and Müller are two of many international students and other foreigners who get vaccinated in Vietnam. International students attend an event at Hanoi University. Photo courtesy of Hanoi University Their vaccination needs vary depending on country, vaccination history, stay length, and travel plans, he explained. Asian students look for HPV vaccines whereas those from western countries are usually concerned about rabies, Japanese encephalitis, dengue, and likely diseases prevalent at their destination. Lawrence's 5-month vaccination schedule. Photo by Khanh Hoa Vietnam has a humid tropical climate, which is conducive to pathogens that can cause respiratory and digestive diseases. Diseases are also transmitted through mosquito bites and scratches and bites by mammals. Selecting a vaccine should take into account a person’s age, health condition, prior immumnizations, travel destination, length of stay and planned activities, Nam said. This advice also applies to Vietnamese travelers, those on business trips, or people relocating to work abroad. Subsidiary of VnExpress License number: 71/GP-CBC, Ministry of Information andCommunications, September 22, 2021 Editor-in-Chief: Pham Van Hieu Email: [email protected]: 028 7300 9999 - Ext 8556 10th floor, Block A FPT Tower, 10 Pham Van Bach, Cau Giay Ward, Hanoi