The northern provinces of Hai Duong and Phu Tho launched a measles-rubella inoculation campaign on September 22, targeting children under the age of 14.

Between now and October 4, Tu Ky district in Hai Duong will offer three rounds of vaccines to over 35,200 children. The remaining districts will run the campaign from October 5 until the end of the year.

Nearly 40,000 children are expected to be immunised against the diseases during the campaign in Hai Duong province.

In Phu Tho, more than 1,700 children, 86.88 percent of the total children in Thanh Son district, turned up at their schools for the vaccination.

Between now and February 2015, the drive is expected to benefit over 307,000 children in the province.

Under a directive issued by the Prime Minister recently, all provinces and centrally-run cities are to vaccinate at least 95 percent of children aged 1-14 by early next year.

A measles epidemic broke out in 61 out of the 63 cities and provinces earlier this year. Figures released in June 2014 showed that as many as 5,031 cases of measles were recorded.

The outbreak was brought under control by the end of May with 73,639 children aged nine months to 10 years old vaccinated.-VNA