Director of Nghe An Department of Health: Determined and resolute in fighting the measles epidemic.

High risk of measles outbreak.

Currently, Nghe An is one of the provinces and cities with a high incidence of measles. Specifically, from the beginning of the year to March 18th, Nghe An recorded 1,210 cases of fever and rash suspected to be measles, with no deaths (in 2024, the entire province recorded 1,191 cases).

The number of cases is high, mainly concentrated in 3 localities: Vinh City (207 cases; scattered cases originating from the district and spread across communes); Ky Son District (585 cases) and Tuong Duong District (130 cases). In Ky Son and Tuong Duong districts, the number of cases increased after the Lunar New Year.

Specifically, from March 7th to March 18th, 420 cases of measles-like rash were recorded in 18 out of 20 localities. The majority of cases were in Ky Son district (238 cases), Tuong Duong (94 cases), and Que Phong (17 cases). Other localities recorded scattered cases.

Since the beginning of the year, Nghe An province has collected 82 measles test samples. The results show 68 positive cases, 2 negative cases, and 12 cases awaiting results. Examining the measles vaccination history of the 68 positive cases reveals: 6 cases were underage (8.8%), 47 cases were old enough but had not been vaccinated (69.1%), 14 cases had received one dose (19.1%), and 2 cases had received two doses (3%).

According to Dr. Chu Trong Trang, Director of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention of Nghe An province:Measles outbreakThe outbreaks in the highland districts are due to the low vaccination rates in some mountainous districts, so there is still a possibility of large-scale measles outbreaks.

In some localities, although vaccination rates are high at 95%, there are still 5% unvaccinated individuals, creating an immunity gap each year. Vaccination rates in some localities do not meet requirements at the commune level.

In 2025, there were some changes in herd immunity, especially among children under 9 months old who had not yet received their scheduled immunizations but were still getting sick. There were also children who had received both doses of the expanded immunization program but were still getting sick.

Vaccination is still slow and has not met expectations.

Clearly define,measles outbreakThe outbreak is due to low vaccination rates, and only vaccination can prevent and control measles outbreaks. Since the beginning of the year, the Nghe An Health Department has implemented many solutions to prevent and control measles outbreaks. These include focusing on boosting measles and measles-rubella vaccination programs.

On February 27, 2025, the Department of Health issued Plan No. 646/KH-SYT to organize a measles vaccination campaign for children aged 6 to under 9 months. The goal is to ensure that 95% of children aged 6 to under 9 months receive one dose of measles vaccine between March 3 and March 31, 2025.

The total number of children expected to be vaccinated in the campaign is 11,968. At this time, 17 districts and towns have completed vaccination; 3 localities have not yet vaccinated: Vinh City, Do Luong District, and Con Cuong District. The total number of children vaccinated is 4,282 (35.7%). Thus, the progress of the measles vaccination campaign is still slow and has not met the requirements.

Meanwhile, the vaccination results for measles-containing vaccines in the expanded immunization program during the first two months of 2025 in Nghe An province also fell short of expectations (15.8%). Specifically, 6,669 out of 48,586 children aged 9 months received the measles vaccine, equivalent to 13.7%; and 5,700 out of 49,066 children aged 18 months received the measles-rubella vaccine, equivalent to 11.6%.

In the three "hotspot" areas of the province for measles outbreaks, the vaccination rates for measles and measles-rubella are still low. Specifically, in Vinh City, in the first two months of 2025, only 677 out of 5,157 nine-month-old children received measles vaccination (13.1%); and 626 out of 4,494 eighteen-month-old children received measles-rubella vaccination (13.9%). For children aged 6 to 9 months, Vinh City only started its measles vaccination campaign from March 20th. The number of children expected to be vaccinated is 1,363.

In Ky Son district, in the first two months of 2025, 154 out of 1,640 nine-month-old children received measles vaccine (9.4%); 151 out of 1,660 eighteen-month-old children received measles-rubella vaccine (9.1%)... For children aged 6 to 9 months, from March 6th to the present, 27 out of 377 children have been vaccinated, reaching 7.2%. The measles vaccination campaign has been implemented for 1,089 out of 2,013 children who have not received all doses (54.1%). The district is currently carrying out the vaccination, but progress is still slow.

In Tuong Duong district, in the first two months of 2025, 159 out of 977 nine-month-old children received the measles vaccine (16.3%); 75 out of 875 eighteen-month-old children received the measles-rubella vaccine (8.6%). For children who have not received all doses, from March 11th to the present, 165 out of 417 children (39.6%) have been vaccinated. For children aged 6 to 9 months, from March 11th, 2025 to the present, 129 out of 248 children (52%) have been vaccinated. The district is also carrying out vaccinations, but the progress is still slow.

Vigorously implement the measles vaccination campaign.

Speaking at the province-wide online conference on measles prevention and control, Dr. Le Thi Hoai Chung, Director of the Department of Health, stated: The results of measles prevention and control in Nghe An have not met expectations and many shortcomings remain. In particular, leaders of health units have not been closely and decisively involved, and have not implemented prevention and control measures correctly.

To combat measles outbreaks, health units must be determined and resolute, fighting like an enemy to control the epidemic at all costs. The requirement is to increase the measles immunity rate in the community. By March 31, 2025, 95% of eligible children who have not been vaccinated or have not received all the necessary doses of the measles vaccine must be vaccinated. The vaccination process must ensure safety.

The Director of the Department of Health requested that health centers and health stations focus on thorough investigation and review. They need to go door-to-door, checking every household and every individual to compile a list of children requiring vaccination, ensuring no one is left out. Communication efforts should be intensified through various forms and means, focusing on measles prevention and control measures, the benefits of vaccination, care and isolation, and the necessity of taking children to medical facilities to avoid complications.

It is necessary to organize appropriate forms of measles vaccination; ensure an adequate supply of vaccines; accelerate the vaccination schedule; ensure vaccination safety; and properly manage post-vaccination reactions.

Health centers and health stations also need to provide sound advice to local Party committees and authorities on measles prevention and control; call on all levels of government, organizations, units, and influential individuals in the area to cooperate and participate in measles prevention and control, especially in mobilizing people to participate in vaccination; and coordinate well with medical facilities in the area to prevent and control measles... aiming to minimize measles cases and prevent complications.

Healthcare facilities need to vaccinate all medical staff against measles; effectively implement patient triage and isolation to prevent cross-infection; provide good treatment; be prepared to receive patients transferred from lower-level facilities; and promptly report suspected cases of measles and other infectious diseases according to regulations.

The Provincial Center for Disease Control is strengthening its support and guidance to health units to effectively implement the measles vaccination campaign, ensuring timely vaccination; guaranteeing a sufficient supply of vaccines, prioritizing key areas with high measles outbreaks; sending working groups to closely monitor and support facilities; and promoting communication and awareness campaigns about measles.

During this period, the Nghe An Department of Health will establish monitoring teams to conduct surprise inspections, post-inspection checks, and disciplinary actions against units and individuals who do not perform well in the campaign; who omit or report inaccurate vaccination results, or who administer measles vaccines incorrectly.