Rabies vaccine is sufficient to meet people’s demand. (Source: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – Rabies vaccine is sufficient to meetpeople’s demand, affirmed the Drug Administration of Vietnam (DAV).
The DAV made the statement in reply to the information abouta lack of rabies vaccine due to the increasing demand in the first quarter of2018 and this summer, noting that there are currently four types of rabiesvaccines allowed to be present in Vietnam.
The agency asked the Health Departments in cities andprovinces to instruct local inoculation units to have plans to reservevaccines, sign bidding or purchase contracts and have alternative measures incase that the current supply of vaccine faces unexpected insufficiency.
The inoculation units which are facing risks of vaccineinsufficiency need to actively contact with import and supply units to buyenough vaccines.
Statistics of the Health Ministry showed that Vietnamrecorded 18 deaths due to rabies in the first four months of 2018,mainly in rural areas. All of the victims did not go for vaccination afterbeing bitten by dogs.
According to the General Department of Preventive Medicine,hot weather from May to August is an ideal environment for the development ofrabies. The rabies virus is transmitted through bites by infected animals,mostly dogs and cats.
Rabies is a dangerous infectious disease with a very highmortality rate, but it can be prevented and treated by using vaccines andanti-rabies serum.
The ministry advises people to carefully clean injuries withwater and soap in 15 minutes when being bitten by cats or dogs, and then go tothe nearest health clinic for consultation and vaccination.-VNA
VNA
