Millions of Vietnamese students draw “Vaccination Heroes” with VNVC

VNVC Immunization Center System brought the "I Draw Vaccination Heroes with VNVC" contest to numerous schools nationwide, giving millions of children and students of all grades the opportunity to showcase their artistic talents and, in doing so, to raise awareness and responsibility for protecting their own health and their families' health from dangerous infectious diseases.

Beyond providing a fun and enriching extracurricular activity for students after a demanding school day, VNVC also organizes health consultations at schools, providing students, teachers, and even parents with access to valuable information about diseases, particularly common viruses and bacteria.

The school environment is a breeding ground for many dangerous viruses and bacteria. Children attending school come into contact with many people and travel to many places, significantly increasing their risk of contracting infectious diseases, especially those that spread rapidly through the respiratory system, such as seasonal influenza, pneumococcal pneumonia, RSV, measles, chickenpox, dengue fever, Japanese encephalitis, hand, foot, and mouth disease, rotavirus diarrhea, and HPV-related illnesses.

Influenza, in particular, is a virus that frequently appears in schools, spreads rapidly, and can easily become an epidemic. This dangerous illness can lead to serious complications, such as pneumonia, meningitis, encephalitis, and ear infections, forcing children to miss school for treatment and impacting their health and long-term future.

In addition to respiratory illnesses, adolescents and young adults aged 12-18 experience a rapid period of intellectual, physical, and psychosocial development. This is also a time when an "immunological gap" develops due to years without vaccinations. The risk of exposure to pathogens increases as they begin to explore their identities, push boundaries, expand their social circles, and interact more extensively with society.

Therefore, they need to protect themselves against sexually transmitted infections, such as genital warts, condyloma, and HPV-related cancers, through safe sexual practices and by getting the HPV vaccine as early as possible, ideally starting at age 9.

UNICEF statistics reveal a significant drop in childhood immunization rates in Vietnam during the COVID-19 pandemic. Preliminary estimates suggest approximately 250,000 children missed their scheduled vaccinations. Vietnam is among the top 20 countries globally with the highest rates of children receiving "zero doses" of vaccines; in 2021, 187,315 children under one year old received no vaccinations of any type.

To stimulate children's creative thinking about "vaccine heroes" who fight viruses and bacteria, and to raise awareness about vaccines and their importance in protecting human health, VNVC Immunization Center System, in collaboration with several schools, is organizing the "I Draw Vaccination Heroes with VNVC" Drawing Contest at schools. Renowned artists will serve as judges.

In addition, the health education program "Keeping Infectious Diseases Out of Schools" and the "I Draw Vaccination Heroes with VNVC" Drawing Contest workshop have been held in numerous primary, secondary, and high schools nationwide, receiving enthusiastic participation from school administrators, parents, and students. These initiatives, held in venues such as Pathway Tue Duc schools, Greenschool Nam Do, children's centers, and language centers, provide valuable and meaningful activities.

The programs contribute to changing perceptions of infectious diseases and the role of vaccines, while also fostering creativity, artistic talent, and aesthetic appreciation in children.

More: VNVC launched the largest drawing competition “I Draw Vaccination Heroes” in Vietnam

PHOTOS: MILLIONS OF VIETNAMESE STUDENTS JOIN VNVC TO DRAW "VACCINATION HEROES"

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