The Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) provides free vaccination for children and pregnant women.

Applicable regulations

Ministry of Health Circular 13/2026/TT-BYT of 16/5/2026 on vaccination activities takes effect on 01/7/2026. It replaces Circular 52/2025/TT-BYT. The list of diseases with mandatory vaccination through the EPI includes 13 diseases:

Viral hepatitis B, tuberculosis, diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, polio.
Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) disease.
Measles, rubella, Japanese encephalitis.
Rotavirus diarrhoea, pneumococcal disease.
HPV disease (new compared with Circular 52/2025).
Other diseases as decided by the Minister of Health.

Circular 13/2026 does not include a schedule table. Schedules and vaccine use follow the manufacturer's instructions and the professional guidance of the Department of Disease Prevention. The schedule below is the one from Circular 52/2025 (reprinted in Table 1 of the book Recommended vaccination schedules for all ages in Vietnam (Vietnam Association of Preventive Medicine, 3rd edition, 2026)), used for reference until new guidance is issued. The schedule for HPV vaccine in the EPI will follow guidance from the Department of Disease Prevention.

Source: Circular 13/2026/TT-BYT, Articles 3, 5, 6, 27; Circular 52/2025/TT-BYT, Article 1.

Schedule by month of age

Within 24 hours of birth:

Hepatitis B: 1 dose of monovalent vaccine (birth dose).

In the first month:

Tuberculosis: 1 dose of BCG.

From 2 months:

5-in-1 vaccine (DTwP-HepB-Hib), against diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, hepatitis B and Hib: 3 doses. Dose 1 at 2 months, the following doses 1 month apart.
Rotavirus: 2 oral doses. Dose 1 at 2 months, dose 2 one month later.
Pneumococcal: 2 doses. Dose 1 at 2 months, dose 2 two months later.
Oral polio vaccine bOPV: 3 doses. Dose 1 at 2 months, the following doses 1 month apart.

5 months and 9 months:

Injected polio vaccine IPV: dose 1 at 5 months, dose 2 at 9 months.

9 months:

Measles: 1 dose of monovalent measles vaccine.

12 months:

Japanese encephalitis (Jevax): 3 doses. Dose 1 at 1 year, dose 2 one to two weeks later, dose 3 one year after dose 1.

18 months:

Measles–rubella (MR): 1 dose.
Diphtheria–pertussis–tetanus (DTwP): 1 booster.

7 years:

Td (reduced-antigen tetanus–diphtheria): 1 booster.

Pneumococcal vaccine is being rolled out according to the roadmap in Resolution 104/NQ-CP, so it is not yet available everywhere.

Source: Circular 52/2025/TT-BYT, Articles 1 and 3; Recommended vaccination schedules for all ages in Vietnam (Vietnam Association of Preventive Medicine, 3rd edition, 2026), Part II, Table 1, p. 31.

Tetanus for pregnant women

The number of doses needed depends on how many tetanus-containing doses were given before. Primary doses are those given before 1 year of age.

Unvaccinated, fewer than 3 primary doses, or unknown history: 5 doses.

Dose 1: early in pregnancy.
Dose 2: at least 1 month after dose 1.
Dose 3: in the next pregnancy, at least 6 months after dose 2.
Dose 4: in the next pregnancy, at least 1 year after dose 3.
Dose 5: in the next pregnancy, at least 1 year after dose 4.

All 3 primary doses: 3 doses.

Dose 1: early in pregnancy.
Dose 2: at least 1 month later.
Dose 3: in the next pregnancy, at least 1 year after dose 2.

All 3 primary doses and 1 booster: 2 doses, at least 1 year apart, in two pregnancies.

All 3 primary doses and 2 boosters: 1 dose early in pregnancy.

In all cases, from the second dose onwards, the dose must be given at least 2 weeks before the expected delivery date.

Source: Recommended vaccination schedules for all ages in Vietnam (Vietnam Association of Preventive Medicine, 3rd edition, 2026), Part II, Table 1, p. 31.

If a child is behind schedule

Circular 13/2026 calls this catch-up vaccination: the commune health station reviews the child's vaccination history and arranges catch-up doses. Under Circular 52/2025, some milestones to remember:

Hepatitis B birth dose: if it cannot be given within 24 hours, give it as soon as possible within 28 days of birth.
BCG: catch up before 12 months of age.
Combination vaccine: children from 12 months receive 3 catch-up doses, with dose 3 at least 6 months after dose 2.
DTwP booster: from 18 months, before 4 years of age. Td dose: from 7 years, at least 4 years after the previous booster.
Rotavirus: dose 2 must be completed before 6 months of age.
Pneumococcal: unvaccinated children aged 12–24 months receive 2 doses at least 2 months apart; from 24 months, 1 dose before 5 years of age.
"1 month" between doses means at least 28 days.

An interrupted schedule does not need to be restarted (except oral typhoid vaccine). Bring the vaccination record to the commune health station for catch-up doses.

Source: Circular 13/2026/TT-BYT, Article 6; Circular 52/2025/TT-BYT, Article 1; Recommended vaccination schedules for all ages in Vietnam (Vietnam Association of Preventive Medicine, 3rd edition, 2026), Part VI, section 2.1, p. 200.

EPI schedule and private-market vaccines

Private-market vaccines (for example the 6-in-1 vaccine with injected polio, pneumococcal vaccines covering more serotypes, meningococcal, influenza and chickenpox vaccines) can replace part of the EPI schedule or be given in addition. The full schedule beyond the EPI is in Table 2 of the Recommendations book. Avoid duplicate components: if a child has had the 6-in-1 vaccine, do not also give the 5-in-1 vaccine in the same round. Bring the vaccination record wherever you get vaccinated so that the health worker can plan the doses.

The YHDP vaccination schedule calculator shows both the EPI schedule (marked "EPI schedule") and private-market schedules by the child's date of birth.

Source: Recommended vaccination schedules for all ages in Vietnam (Vietnam Association of Preventive Medicine, 3rd edition, 2026), Part II, Table 2, pp. 32–33.