Localities urged to accelerate measles vaccine campaign

The move was made as measles and whooping cough cases in some provinces and cities have increased and are showing complex developments and Ho Chi Minh City declared measles outbreak.

The ministry tasked provincial and municipal health departments to have plans to prevent and control any measles and whooping cough cases nationwide, with particular focus on the vaccination campaign.

Since the beginning of 2024, Viet Nam has reported over 2,000 infections of which Ho Chi Minh City confirmed 525 cases of fever.

The Southern city will launch a campaign to supplement measles vaccination for all children aged 1-5 in the locality, regardless of previous vaccination record.

Statistics from Ho Chi Minh City Center for Disease Control showed that in the past week, the city documented 85 cases of fever accompanied by rash with 20 cases confirmed to be measles.

The Ministry of Health launched the campaign to provide measles vaccines for children nationwide at a hybrid conference on August 22, to mark World Immunization Week 2024.

The ministry targets to provide 1,134,200 doses of vaccine to educational units and medical facilities in districts at risk of measles outbreaks in 18 provinces and cities.

Measles is a highly contagious respiratory disease that can spread rapidly following an incubation period of seven to 21 days.

Medical experts have cautioned the disease can lead to serious complications, including pneumonia, encephalitis, otitis media, keratitis, diarrhoea, and even death.

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