The northern city of Hai Phong has planned to earmark about 3.6 billion VND (169,000 USD) for a large-scale vaccination campaign against measles and rubella for children aged between 1 and 14.

According to a plan issued by the municipal People’s Committee on July 31, the campaign aims to bring the rate of local children of this age group receiving rubella vaccines to 95 percent.

The three-phase campaign will be carried out at 255 immunisation stations in all the districts from September 2014 to February 2015, expected to benefit about 430,000 children.

To make the campaign effective, steering committees at district and commune levels will be set up, while conferences and training courses will also be organised to raise public awareness and provide necessary skills for medical staff.

Last month, similar campaigns were also held in Hanoi and northern Ha Nam province.

During the latest outbreak of measles in Hanoi early this year, vaccination proved effective. With 73,639 children aged from nine months to under-10 given shots, the outbreak was put under control by the end of May.

To maintain the immunisation outcomes, the municipal health department has required related units to intensify their management over vaccination activities so as those in need could not be missed out.

In early July, at a meeting of the Steering Committee for Epidemic Prevention and Control, the Ministry of Health said it continues to expand vaccination campaigns, and plans to launch a new measles-rubella vaccination drive targeting children from 1-14 years old in September.-VNA