Health ministry launches measles vaccine campaign amidst infection outbreaks

The ministry said it has coordinated with WHO and UNICEF to develop and launch the campaign to provide a vaccine against measles in 2024 with 1,134,200 doses of vaccine funded by the Australian Government.

It will be deployed at educational units and medical facilities in the districts at risk of measles outbreaks especially Ho Chi Minh City, Ha Tinh, Dong Nai, Long An, Soc Trang, Binh Phuoc, Kien Giang, Quang Nam, Gia Lai, Dak Lak, and Tay Ninh. Vaccine inoculation cover children aged from one to ten excluding those who received enough two doses of measles vaccine.

Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan urged localities to work out an additional measles and rubella vaccination plan, along with arranging funding, human resources, and equipment for vaccination.

"The goal of this drive is to increase the immunization rate in the community to proactively prevent epidemics and reduce morbidity and mortality from measles," said the Minister.

WHO Representative in Viet Nam Angela Pratt said that hundreds of thousands of children in Viet Nam have missed out on vaccinations since 2021 due to pandemic-related disruptions and the recent lack of vaccine stock, thereby leading to the largest sustained decline in rates of childhood immunization in Viet Nam in over 20 years.

According to the WHO Viet Nam Chief Representative, the WHO has finalized the procurement of an emergency supply of more than one million doses of measles-rubella vaccines which will be used for outbreak response and supplementary immunization activities in the highest-risk areas.

The Health Ministry also urged Ho Chi Minh City authorities to take immediate action against the current measles outbreak, which has resulted in the deaths of three children.

Measles can only be effectively managed when the community immunity rate reaches 95 per cent and each individual has received two doses of the vaccine.

If a child has not received or missed their vaccination appointments, they must be taken to medical facilities for consultation and immunization without delay.

Parents and guardians are advised to consult local healthcare stations for information regarding the vaccination schedule.

Measles remains one of the 11 infectious diseases for which vaccination is mandatory for children, with the first dose administered at nine months of age and the second dose at 18 months of age./.