Illustrative photo (Source: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – The Ministry of Health has issued a decision approving a plan to giveadditional measles-rubella (MR) vaccine shots to children in the 1-5 age group inthe 2018-2019 period.
Under Decision6193/QD-BYT, the number of children benefiting from the campaign is 4.28million, mostly from high-risk areas. The children, whether they got MR vaccinesalready or not, and their last shot was under one month prior to the start ofthe campaign, will receive one more MR shot to enhance their resistance againstdiseases.
The campaign will beconducted at kindergartens and health care facilities. The ministry hasdirected localities to set up inspection and supervision teams to support thecampaign to ensure quality and safety.
Statistics of theministry showed that the number of measles infection cases in 2017 were higherthan that in 2015 and 2016.
As of September 17,2018, the disease was reported in 37 localities nationwide with nearly 1,000cases, including one death in Hung Yen province. Localities with a high numberof cases include Hanoi, Lao Cai, Thanh Hoa, Son La, Quang Ninh and Dien Bien.
Although the rate ofMR vaccination coverage nationwide is relatively high, the figure has yet tomeet 95 percent, while there remain many high-risk areas with a rate of under90 percent.
Measles and rubella aredangerous communicable diseases, which may cause serious complications onpatients and even threaten their lives.
MR vaccines areeffective and safe in preventing the diseases. In 2018, Vietnam has giveadditional shots to children in 33 districts of six high-risk provinces of LaoCai, Yen Bai, Thanh Hoa, Lai Chau, Dien Bien and Son La. Meanwhile, 13 other high-riskareas have built their plans to conduct the campaign.-VNA
VNA
