Nearly 15,000 children from in the northern province of Ninh Binh have received the Quinvaxem vaccine in a vaccination programme launched on October 25, after it was proved to be safe for children.

According to Le Hoang Nam, Director of the provincial Preventive Healthcare Centre, after the Government approved the resumption of the vaccine’s use earlier this month, the centre has organised training courses on vaccination procedures and safety for staff in 161 approved healthcare centres. More than 500 local health workers have received certificates after joining the courses, he added.

The preparatory works in vaccination centres have been carried out carefully to make sure children and their parents get health consultations, pre-vaccination checks and close supervision during and after the vaccination, and ensure hygiene as well as the quality of the vaccine.

The use of Quinvaxem has resumed after a five-month suspension following the death of nine children who received the vaccine earlier this year.

The vaccine, which prevents five common, potentially fatal childhood diseases, including diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, hepatitis B and pneumonia, and meningitis, was tested by the Ministry of Health and other domestic and international organisations. Findings failed to provide evidence that the deaths were related to the quality of the vaccine, experts said.

The vaccine, manufactured by the Republic of Korea’s Berna Biotec Company and imported by the ministry, has been used in the country since 2010.-VNA