The Ministry of Health requires close monitoring of the vaccination process.

On the afternoon of October 27th, the Ministry of Health issued an urgent document to the Departments of Health in provinces and cities, requesting them to strengthen the implementation of measles-rubella vaccination.

Medical staff administer vaccinations to young children. (Photo: VNA)

The above request was issued by the Ministry of Health after an incident occurred where vaccination staff at Sao Mai Kindergarten, Ward 3, Cao Lanh City (Dong Thap Province) mistakenly thought the reconstitution solution vials were a new type of vaccine and injected the reconstitution solution without the actual vaccine into 60 children on October 14th. The vaccine injected was a measles-rubella combination vaccine.

Associate Professor Tran Dac Phu, Director of the Department of Preventive Medicine (Ministry of Health), said that immediately after receiving the information, the Pasteur Institute of Ho Chi Minh City went down and resolved the issue. The Provincial Department of Health acknowledged shortcomings in the measles-rubella vaccination campaign at Sao Mai Kindergarten.

According to Mr. Phu, this is the first time such an incident has occurred. Fortunately, it was a reconstitution solution, so it posed no danger to the children's health. Currently, the children who received the injection are in good health and have shown no abnormalities. The officer who administered the injection was immediately transferred to another position.

To avoid unfortunate mistakes, the Ministry of Health requests that directors of provincial health departments instruct healthcare facilities to strictly adhere to prescribed guidelines and conduct vaccinations safely.

These units must immediately organize additional training for healthcare workers, ensuring that only trained personnel with proficient techniques are allowed to participate in vaccination.

According to the Ministry of Health's requirements, localities must organize vaccination points in a rational manner, send staff to health facilities to supervise and provide technical support in the safe implementation of vaccinations, and promptly handle cases of post-vaccination reactions.

According to reports from localities nationwide as of October 24th, the Expanded Immunization Program has administered the measles-rubella vaccine to approximately 4.5 million children, with results showing the vaccine to be safe and effective.

The measles-rubella vaccine is a combined vaccine to protect against both measles and rubella. It is a live, attenuated vaccine. The vaccine is packaged as a freeze-dried powder, yellowish-white in color, and comes with a vial of reconstitution solution.

The measles-rubella vaccine must be reconstituted before use. The vaccine is packaged in glass vials containing 10 doses, with the diluent in 5ml vials.

According to VNA