Children under five and pregnant women in areas controlled by the New Mon State Party (NMSP) will soon receive vaccinations under the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI), according to the Mon National Health Department (Central).

The EPI program, which targets children under five and pregnant women with limited access to vaccinations, will be implemented by the Mon National Health Department under the NMSP. Vaccinations are scheduled to begin by the end of December 2024.  

“We initially planned to launch the program in October, but due to incomplete preparations and delays in receiving vaccines from donors, we had to postpone. Now, we are ready to move forward,” said Nai Seik Rott, responsible for the Mon National Health Department.

The EPI program, which operated between 2010 and 2020, was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the military coup.  

In 2024, the program will be re-implemented in 30 villages within NMSP-controlled areas. This includes 10 villages in the Payathonzu region, 11 in the Yechaunghpyar region, and 9 in the Yebyu region.  

“There are 11 types of vaccines available, and we plan to administer about nine. We are finalizing the details, such as the order of vaccinations, the schedule, and the number of people to be vaccinated in each village. Relevant officials are currently preparing the lists,” Nai Seik Rott added.  

From 2020 to the end of 2023, health centers and clinics under the NMSP faced vaccine shortages due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  

The New Mon State Party’s central health department, established in 1972, currently operates one large public hospital, 17 medium-level hospitals, and 18 dispensaries.