Vietnam Launches Vaccinology Training for Preventive Care

Vietnam has launched a pioneering vaccinology training programme designed to strengthen preventive healthcare capacity among medical professionals, marking a significant advance in modern medical education and clinical practice. The programme was officially introduced on 25 September 2026 in Ho Chi Minh City during an expert seminar focused on the role of vaccines and vaccinology training in medical and pharmaceutical schools.

The initiative comes at a critical time for Vietnam. The country is experiencing rapid population ageing while the burden of non-communicable diseases continues to rise. Extending healthy life expectancy has become an urgent national priority. In this context, building stronger preventive healthcare skills among doctors and other health workers is recognised as a foundational step toward protecting public health and creating a more sustainable health system for the future.

Assoc. Prof. Phung Nguyen The Nguyen, Dean of the School of Medicine at the University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City, addressed the seminar and underscored the shift required in medical practice. “The advancement of modern medicine requires physicians to treat diseases and proactively prevent them,” he said. “The launch of the vaccinology programme demonstrates our commitment to innovating medical education, enabling future healthcare professionals to integrate preventive thinking into clinical practice and better respond to the evolving health needs of people in Vietnam.”

The programme involves 10 specialties and training units. Through a multidisciplinary approach, it aims to equip future physicians with the knowledge and practical competencies needed to embed prevention throughout the entire patient care journey. Particular attention is given to adults, older adults and people living with underlying health conditions groups that stand to benefit most from improved immunisation practices and counselling.

Prof. Jonathan Nguyen Van Tam, Emeritus Professor at the University of Nottingham School of Medicine and former Deputy Chief Medical Officer of England, highlighted the broader significance of adult immunisation. He described it as an essential and growing component of healthy ageing strategies and sustainable healthcare systems. “To achieve these goals, healthcare professionals need systematic training in vaccine science, administration skills, and immunisation counselling,” he noted. “Vietnam’s vaccinology programme represents a significant step forward in strengthening preventive healthcare capacity and preparing for the ageing of its population.”

The programme is the product of collaboration among Vietnamese academic institutions and leading healthcare experts from Vietnam and abroad. Partners include the British Embassy and prominent universities in the United Kingdom. This international dimension reflects a shared commitment to knowledge exchange, stronger medical education partnerships and enhanced workforce capacity for the years ahead.

Pham Thi My Lien, President of GSK Vietnam, emphasised the company’s role in supporting the initiative. “At GSK, we believe that strengthening healthcare professional capacity is one of the fundamental pillars of a sustainable healthcare system,” she said. “We are proud to collaborate with academic partners and healthcare experts in implementing the vaccinology programme, contributing to stronger preventive healthcare capabilities among healthcare professionals and advancing a prevention-focused approach to healthcare in Vietnam.”

As the first programme of its kind in Vietnam, the initiative is expected to progressively build the academic foundation, faculty expertise and implementation model required for the future integration of vaccinology into undergraduate medical curricula. By doing so, it will help prepare successive generations of Vietnamese healthcare professionals with stronger preventive competencies, promote life-course immunisation and support a wider shift from reactive disease treatment toward proactive health protection.

The official launch represents more than the introduction of a new training module. It signals a long-term vision shared by educational institutions, healthcare experts and international partners to develop a medical workforce capable of leading preventive health initiatives. The programme is designed to improve quality of life, reduce the long-term burden of vaccine-preventable and age-related diseases, and contribute to a healthier future for the Vietnamese population.

In practical terms, systematic training in vaccine science, administration and counselling will enable doctors to offer more informed guidance to patients across different life stages. This is especially relevant for older adults and those with chronic conditions, for whom timely immunisation can significantly reduce complications, hospitalisations and healthcare costs. Embedding preventive thinking early in medical education is expected to create lasting changes in clinical culture and practice.

The multidisciplinary structure of the programme spanning 10 specialties and training units ensures that preventive principles are not confined to a single department. Instead, they are intended to permeate multiple areas of medical training, reinforcing the idea that prevention is a core responsibility of every physician.

International collaboration further strengthens the initiative. Expertise from the United Kingdom and engagement with the British Embassy provide access to established models of vaccinology education and healthy ageing strategies. This exchange of knowledge supports Vietnam’s efforts to align its medical education standards with global best practices while remaining responsive to local health challenges.

Also Read: BMU Strengthens Medical Ties with China on Education

As Vietnam continues to navigate demographic and epidemiological transitions, investments in preventive healthcare capacity will become increasingly important. The new vaccinology programme positions medical schools and healthcare professionals to respond more effectively to these changes. By prioritising education, training and a prevention-focused mindset, the initiative lays essential groundwork for a more resilient and forward-looking health system.

The launch on 25 September 2026 therefore marks a meaningful milestone in Vietnam’s medical education landscape. It reflects a clear commitment by academic leaders, international partners and industry stakeholders to equip future doctors with the tools needed to protect health proactively, support healthy ageing and contribute to sustainable improvements in public health outcomes across the country.