As many as 43,000 children aged 1-14 have received free measles-rubella vaccinations, with no post-vaccination side effects recorded so far.

Prof. Dr Nguyen Tran Hien, Director of the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology told a media conference in Hanoi on September 30 giving an update on the campaign, run by the Ministry of Health from September 2014 to February 2015.

Children in Thanh Son district in northern Phu Tho province, Phu Vang district in central Thua-Thien-Hue province, Cu Kuin district in the Central Highlands province of Dak Lak, and Vung Tau city in southern Ba Ria-Vung Tau province benefited from the vaccination drive.

Safety was ensured throughout the vaccination process, from the initial consultation, check-ups and injection to post-vaccination monitoring, Hien said.

The three-phase campaign is expected to benefit 23 million children aged 1-14, increasing the vaccination rate for children of this age group to 95 percent.
A measles epidemic erupted in Vietnam in the first quarter of 2014, with outbreaks reported in 61 out of 63 cities and provinces.

As many as 5,031 cases of measles were recorded in the country during the first half of 2014. Vaccination was proven to be the most effective response to the outbreak, bringing the disease under control in May.-VNA