Measles campaign to vaccinate 7.5m children
A new campaign launched by the Ministry of Health will cover 7.5 million children nationwide from Sept. 24, in
an effort to cover at least 95 percent of the target population.
A new campaign launched by the Ministry of Health, including two
vaccinations against measles for children aged between nine and 18
months, will cover 7.5 million children nationwide from September 24, in
an effort to cover at least 95 percent of the target population.
"More than 7,000 cases of measles were reported in 2009, that's why we've launched the campaign," said Nguyen Tran Hien, director of the National Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI).
The EPI campaign will especially focus on outlying provinces, and replace the previous policy that dates back to 2002, in which children previously received two measles vaccinations at nine months and six years of age.
Health experts explained that two vaccinations within nine months would increase resistance rates from measles to more than 95 percent.
However, health experts discovered that only 85 percent of children had been protected after receiving their first shot of measles vaccine.
The three-month campaign was part of a campaign to minimise outbreaks of measles by 2012, said Hien, who is also director of the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology.
About 15 percent of children under the age of six faced the risk of catching measles, and potentially acted as measles carriers, infecting other vulnerable groups, said Hien.
According to EPI statistics, the measles outbreak in 2009 was the largest since the country began a second round of booster vaccinations.
Four months after the first case was found, the outbreak spread to 57 provinces and cities, then to all 63 localities. However, no fatalities were reported. The measles infection rate focused mainly on 1-5-year-old and 18-26-year-old groups.
Priority will be given to implementing the campaign in mountainous and remote areas in northern provinces.
Measles vaccines, syringes and injection needles were provided by the World Health Organisation through the United Nations Fund for Children.
According to EPI statistics, measles outbreaks occurred throughout the country, with more than 1,600 measles cases reported during the first eight months of 2010, of which nearly had 1,100 appeared in the south.
Vietnam has about 12 million of children aged below six years of age./.
"More than 7,000 cases of measles were reported in 2009, that's why we've launched the campaign," said Nguyen Tran Hien, director of the National Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI).
The EPI campaign will especially focus on outlying provinces, and replace the previous policy that dates back to 2002, in which children previously received two measles vaccinations at nine months and six years of age.
Health experts explained that two vaccinations within nine months would increase resistance rates from measles to more than 95 percent.
However, health experts discovered that only 85 percent of children had been protected after receiving their first shot of measles vaccine.
The three-month campaign was part of a campaign to minimise outbreaks of measles by 2012, said Hien, who is also director of the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology.
About 15 percent of children under the age of six faced the risk of catching measles, and potentially acted as measles carriers, infecting other vulnerable groups, said Hien.
According to EPI statistics, the measles outbreak in 2009 was the largest since the country began a second round of booster vaccinations.
Four months after the first case was found, the outbreak spread to 57 provinces and cities, then to all 63 localities. However, no fatalities were reported. The measles infection rate focused mainly on 1-5-year-old and 18-26-year-old groups.
Priority will be given to implementing the campaign in mountainous and remote areas in northern provinces.
Measles vaccines, syringes and injection needles were provided by the World Health Organisation through the United Nations Fund for Children.
According to EPI statistics, measles outbreaks occurred throughout the country, with more than 1,600 measles cases reported during the first eight months of 2010, of which nearly had 1,100 appeared in the south.
Vietnam has about 12 million of children aged below six years of age./.
You should also see
Brand building for Vietnamese agricultural products needed to boost exports
Vietnam's agricultural development has gained many achievements in recent times, with seven commodities recording annual export turnover of over 3 billion USD, namely wood and wooden products, shrimp, coffee, rice, rubber, vegetables and fruits, and cashew nuts. These products are present in most of the world's major import markets such as the US, the European Union (EU) and Japan.
See more
Health
First southern pediatric organ transplant centre to become operational in 2025
The first pediatric organ transplant centre in Vietnam’s southern region is scheduled to be completed and put into operation on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification Day (April 30, 1975 - 2025).
Health
Free surgeries offered for cleft palate children in Thua Thien-Hue
About 80 children with cleft palate in the central province of Thua Thien-Hue and surrounding localities are to receive free check-ups and surgeries from now until April 18.
Health
Vietnam to host first int’l airway management conference
International airway experts from across the world, including the United Kingdom, United States of America, France, Italy, New Zealand, and experts from Vietnam will gather at the first South East Asian Conference of the World Alliance of Airway Management (WAAM) in Hanoi on April 13-14.
Health
Health insurance coverage necessary for all TB patients: Deputy PM
Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha on April 8 requested the Ministry of Health to work with the Vietnam Social Security and the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs to provide health insurance coverage for all tuberculosis (TB) patients.
Health
Blood donation – journey of love sharing
April 7 was designated as the “All People’s Voluntary Blood Donation Day” 24 years ago and, ever since, the blood donation movement has attracted the participation of tens of thousands of people across the country.
